Glossary

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Inclusive Privacy(also: Accessible Privacy, Privacy and Accessibility)

An emerging field of research and practice focused on designing security and privacy mechanisms that are inclusive of people with diverse characteristics, abilities, needs, and values — particularly people with disabilities. Inclusive privacy recognizes that standard privacy…

Inclusive Procurement(also: Accessible Procurement)

The practice of embedding accessibility requirements into purchasing and contracting processes for products and services, particularly ICT systems. Inclusive procurement ensures that organizations evaluate vendors on their ability to meet accessibility standards such as EN 301…

Inclusive Thinking

A design and problem-solving mindset that treats the needs of people with diverse abilities as a core consideration from the outset of a project, rather than as an afterthought or accommodation added later. Inclusive thinking goes beyond technical knowledge of accessibility…

Inclusive avatar(also: Disability-representative avatar)

A digital self-representation in virtual environments that includes disability signifiers such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, hearing aids, canes, or visual metaphors for invisible conditions. Inclusive avatars enable disabled users to express their identity in virtual spaces and…

Inclusive pedagogy(also: Inclusive teaching, Inclusive educational practice)

Teaching approaches and practices designed to ensure all students — including those with disabilities — can meaningfully participate in and benefit from educational experiences. Inclusive pedagogy goes beyond providing individual accommodations to reshape the learning…

Independent Living(also: Autonomous Living)

A philosophy and practical goal emphasizing that people with disabilities should have the same opportunities and control over their daily lives as people without disabilities, including making choices about where and how they live. In accessibility practice, independent living…

Independent Living Movement(also: IL Movement)

A disability rights movement that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s advocating for disabled people's right to live independently in the community, make their own choices, and participate fully in society on a par with nondisabled peers. The movement organized protests, including…

Independent Living Skills(also: Daily Living Skills, ILS)

The practical skills needed to manage everyday tasks and routines autonomously, including personal hygiene, food preparation, household chores, money management, and time management. For people with disabilities, developing independent living skills is a core component of…

Index of Difficulty(also: ID, Fitts ID)

The Index of Difficulty (ID) is the central quantity in Fitts' law that captures how hard a rapid aimed pointing movement is, computed as log₂(A/W + 1) in the Shannon formulation, where A is the amplitude (distance to the target) and W is the target width along the movement…

Indian Language Accessibility(also: Indic Language Accessibility)

The set of challenges and solutions involved in making digital technology accessible to people with disabilities who use Indian languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, and others. Indian languages use complex scripts with features like consonant conjuncts…

Indian Sign Language(also: ISL, Indo-Pakistani Sign Language, IPSL)

The sign language used predominantly by the Deaf community in India. Indian Sign Language has its own distinct grammar and vocabulary that differs substantially from American Sign Language (ASL) and other sign languages. ISL is used by millions of Deaf individuals across India…

Indigenous Data Sovereignty(also: IDS, Tribal Data Sovereignty)

The right of Indigenous peoples to govern the collection, ownership, and application of data about their communities, lands, and resources. Rooted in inherent rights of self-governance, Indigenous data sovereignty ensures that research involving Indigenous populations respects…

Indirect Discrimination(also: Disparate Impact)

A form of unlawful discrimination where a policy, criterion, or practice that appears neutral on its face disproportionately disadvantages people with a protected characteristic. Unlike direct discrimination, there is no need to prove discriminatory intent—it is sufficient to…

Indirect Text Entry(also: Indirect Selection, Indirect Text Composition)

A text input method where the number of available input controls (such as switches or keys) is significantly smaller than the number of characters that can be entered. The user selects characters through an intermediary process such as scanning, where the system cycles through…

Indirect speech act(also: Indirect request)

A linguistic utterance whose intended meaning differs from its literal meaning, commonly used in neurotypical communication for politeness or social convention. For example, "Can you pass the salt?" is literally a question about ability but is conventionally understood as a…

Individual Sign Language Recognition(also: ISLR, Word-Level Sign Recognition, Isolated Sign Recognition)

A machine learning task focused on recognizing individual signs from a sign language, translating single signs independently without considering surrounding context. Unlike continuous sign language recognition which attempts to interpret flowing signed sentences, ISLR identifies…

Individual-Technology Fit(also: ITF, User-Technology Match)

A framework for matching individual users with the most appropriate assistive technology based on their personal characteristics and the technology's requirements. In brain-computer interface contexts, ITF considers factors like age, education, caffeine consumption, and video…

Individualized Education Plan(also: IEP, Individualized Education Program)

A legally binding document in the United States that outlines the special education services, accommodations, and goals for a student with a disability. IEPs are developed collaboratively by educators, parents, and specialists, and are mandated under the Individuals with…

Individualized Education Program(also: IEP, Individualized Education Plan)

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document in the United States that outlines the specialized instruction, services, accommodations, and goals for a student with a disability who qualifies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).…

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(also: IDEA)

A United States federal law that guarantees students with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment. Originally enacted in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and reauthorized as IDEA in 1990…

Indoor Accessibility(also: Home Accessibility, Domestic Accessibility)

The degree to which indoor spaces — including homes, workplaces, and public buildings — can be safely and independently used by people with disabilities. Indoor accessibility encompasses physical features such as door widths, counter heights, light switch placement, grab bar…

Indoor Localization(also: Indoor Positioning, Indoor Positioning System, IPS)

The problem of determining the precise location of a person or device inside a building, where GPS signals are weak or unavailable. Indoor localization is foundational for accessible wayfinding systems aimed at blind and low-vision travellers, who need to know their position…

Indoor Navigation(also: Indoor Wayfinding, Indoor Positioning)

Technologies and systems that help users find their way within indoor environments such as museums, shopping centers, airports, and public buildings where GPS signals are unreliable. Indoor navigation systems for blind and low vision users may use Bluetooth beacons, Wi-Fi…

Indoor Positioning(also: Indoor Localization, Indoor Location)

Technology that determines a person's location within an indoor environment where GPS signals are unavailable or unreliable. Indoor positioning systems use various technologies including BLE beacons, Wi-Fi signal strength, RFID tags, ultra-wideband radio, and computer vision.…

Indoor Positioning System(also: IPS)

A technology system that determines the location of people or objects inside buildings where GPS signals are unavailable or unreliable. Indoor positioning systems use various technologies including Wi-Fi fingerprinting, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons, ultra-wideband (UWB),…

Indoor Wayfinding(also: Indoor Navigation Wayfinding)

The process of navigating within enclosed spaces such as buildings, airports, shopping centers, and hospitals. Indoor wayfinding presents unique accessibility challenges because GPS signals are unavailable indoors, and traditional wayfinding cues like signs and maps are visually…

Indoor navigation(also: Indoor wayfinding, Indoor positioning)

Technologies and design strategies that help people orient themselves and find their way within buildings and enclosed spaces such as airports, hospitals, and shopping centres. Unlike outdoor navigation which relies on GPS, indoor navigation often uses Bluetooth beacons, Wi-Fi…

Inductive Thematic Analysis(also: Bottom-Up Thematic Analysis)

A qualitative data analysis method where themes and patterns are identified directly from the data without being guided by pre-existing theoretical frameworks or hypotheses. In inductive thematic analysis, researchers read through data (such as interview transcripts or online…

Inequitable Access(also: Inadequate Accommodation)

Inequitable access describes the situation where accommodations or accessibility measures are provided but fail to adequately address the underlying inaccessibility, leaving people with disabilities with access that is significantly inferior to what nondisabled people…

Inertial Measurement Unit(also: IMU)

An electronic sensor module that combines accelerometers and gyroscopes (and sometimes magnetometers) to measure motion, orientation, and gravitational forces. IMUs are embedded in smartphones, smartwatches, and other wearable devices, where they can detect gestures, track…

Inertial Sensing(also: IMU sensing, Inertial measurement)

The use of accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers — often built into smartphones and wearable devices — to measure motion, orientation, and direction of movement. In accessibility applications, inertial sensing enables dead reckoning for indoor navigation where GPS is…

Inertial Sensor(also: IMU, Inertial Measurement Unit)

A sensor device that measures acceleration, rotation, and orientation using accelerometers and gyroscopes, often combined with magnetometers. In assistive technology, inertial sensors are used to track the direction a user is facing and the movements of their head or body,…

Inertial Sensors(also: IMU, Inertial Measurement Unit)

Electronic sensors that measure motion and orientation, typically including accelerometers (measuring acceleration/tilt), gyroscopes (measuring rotation), and magnetometers (measuring magnetic field/compass heading). In accessibility applications, inertial sensors enable indoor…

Inertial measurement unit(also: IMU)

A sensor device that combines accelerometers, gyroscopes, and sometimes magnetometers to measure and report body movement, orientation, and gravitational forces. IMUs are widely used in assistive technology and accessibility research for gesture recognition, body pose…

Infant-Computer Interaction(also: Baby-Computer Interaction)

The design and study of technology interfaces intended for use by infants, typically under 24 months of age. Infant-computer interaction presents unique challenges compared to other user populations because infants cannot be instructed, cannot provide explicit feedback about…

Inflecting Verb(also: Spatial Verb, Agreement Verb, Directional Verb)

A category of sign language verbs that change their movement path, direction, or orientation based on the spatial locations associated with their subject and object. In American Sign Language, verbs like GIVE, ASK, and TELL move from the location representing the subject toward…

Informal Caregiver(also: Family Caregiver, Unpaid Caregiver)

A person, typically a family member, friend, or neighbor, who provides unpaid assistance to someone with a disability, chronic illness, or age-related needs. Informal caregivers often help with daily activities, health management, and navigating information systems such as…

Informal Carer(also: Informal Caregiver, Family Carer, Unpaid Carer)

A person who provides regular care and support to a family member, friend, or neighbour who has a disability, chronic illness, mental health condition, or age-related needs, without being paid as a professional caregiver. Informal carers — most commonly spouses, adult children,…

Informal Learning(also: Informal Education, Free-Choice Learning)

Learning that occurs outside formal educational settings, driven by curiosity, personal interest, and voluntary engagement rather than structured curricula and assessments. Science museums, workshops, community programs, and hands-on activities are key venues for informal…

Information Appliance(also: Smart Appliance, Dedicated Device)

A computing device designed for a specific, well-defined purpose that is communication-oriented and easy to use, in contrast to a general-purpose computer. Information appliances typically have reduced functionality and complexity compared to desktop or laptop computers, making…

Information Architecture(also: IA)

The structural design of information environments, encompassing the organization, labeling, navigation, and search systems that help users find and manage information effectively. In digital accessibility, information architecture plays a critical role in ensuring that content…

Information Extraction(also: IE, Data Extraction)

The process of automatically identifying and retrieving structured information from unstructured or semi-structured data sources. In the context of accessibility and data visualization, information extraction refers to how users — particularly screen-reader users — pull specific…

Information Foraging(also: Information Foraging Theory)

A theoretical framework from cognitive science that models how people search for and navigate to information, drawing an analogy to animal foraging behaviour. Users assess "information scent" — cues like link text, headings, and page structure — to decide whether to continue…

Information Foraging Theory(also: IFT)

A theory proposed by Pirolli and Card describing how people seek information by adaptively optimising for maximum information gain with minimum effort, analogous to animal foraging. Key constructs include information scent (cues signalling potential usefulness), information…

Information Graphics(also: Infographics, Data Graphics, Statistical Graphics)

Visual representations of data, information, or knowledge designed to present complex information quickly and clearly. Common types include bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, scatter plots, and more complex visualizations. Information graphics pose significant accessibility…

Information Hierarchy(also: Content Hierarchy, Information Architecture)

The organization and prioritization of information elements in an interface, determining what users encounter first and how content is structured for navigation. In accessibility, information hierarchy is crucial because screen reader users experience content sequentially rather…

Information Overload(also: Cognitive Overload, Information Overwhelm)

The state of being overwhelmed by the volume of information presented, making it difficult to identify relevant content, make decisions, or complete tasks effectively. In web accessibility contexts, information overload disproportionately affects screen reader users who must…

Information Perceptualization(also: Perceptualization)

Information perceptualization is the mapping of abstract data or information onto perceptual properties across multiple sensory modalities — vision, hearing, touch, and occasionally taste or smell — in a coordinated, multimodal display. It generalises the more familiar notion of…

Information Power

A sample-adequacy principle for qualitative research, proposed by Malterud, Siersma, and Guassora (2016), which holds that the more information a study sample holds that is relevant to the research question, the fewer participants are needed. Adequacy is judged against five…

Information Quality(also: IQ, Data Quality)

A measure of how well information meets the needs of its consumers, encompassing dimensions such as accuracy, completeness, currency, relevance, and reliability. In accessibility and disability contexts, information quality on digital platforms is critical because people with…