Website Accessibility Glossary

Accessibility It is an inclusive practice of design and creation of websites that can be used by all people, including elderly people, and those with disabilities including blind, motor impaired, visually impaired, color blind, dyslexia, cognitive & learning, seizure & epileptic, and ADHA.
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) A set of attributes that define ways to make web content and web applications more accessible to people with disabilities.
Alternative Text (Alt Text) Descriptions added to images to convey their meaning to users who cannot see them, often read by screen readers.
Assistive Technology Tools and devices that assist people with disabilities in interacting with websites, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, and speech recognition software.
Accessibility Audit A comprehensive automated and manual evaluation of a website or application's accessibility, identifying areas of non-compliance with accessibility standards.
Accessibility Testing The process of assessing a website or application to ensure it can be used effectively by people with various disabilities.
Accessibility for Audio and Video Implementing features such as captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions to make multimedia content accessible to users with hearing or visual impairments.
Accessibility Remediation The process of fixing or remediating identified accessibility issues on a website or application to comply with accessibility standards.
Accessibility Statement A public declaration outlining a website's commitment to accessibility, including its policies, goals, and contact information for accessibility-related issues.
Accessibility Conformance Report A document detailing the extent to which a website or application complies with specific accessibility standards, often based on an audit or testing.
Accessible Design The practice of creating websites, applications, products, and other digital assets that are usable by people of all abilities and disabilities.
Cognitive Accessibility Designing digital content and interfaces to be understandable, accessible, and usable by individuals with cognitive or learning disabilities.
Color Blindness A visual impairment that affects an individual's ability to distinguish between certain colors, necessitating designs that do not rely solely on color to convey information.
Captions Text versions of the spoken part of a video, which includes dialogue and other relevant audio information, provided for users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Color Contrast The difference in light between font (or anything in the foreground) and its background to ensure that text is readable by users with visual impairments.
Content Management System (CMS) Software used to create, manage, and modify digital content, which can impact accessibility based on its features and functionalities.
Document Remediation The process of modifying documents to ensure they are accessible to people with disabilities, often involving adjustments to structure, tags, and alternative text.
Digital Accessibility The practice of designing and developing digital content and technologies so that they can be used by people of all abilities and disabilities.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Organizational practices and policies that promote diverse representation, ensure fair treatment and opportunity, and foster an inclusive environment for all individuals.
Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts Fonts designed to be easier to read for individuals with dyslexia, often featuring unique character shapes to avoid confusion.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) A set of criteria used to evaluate a company's ethical impact and sustainability practices, focusing on environmental conservation, social responsibility, and corporate governance.
JAWS A widely used screen reader software for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, enabling them to interact with digital content through speech or Braille output.
Keyboard Navigation The ability to navigate through a website using a keyboard instead of a mouse, essential for users with motor disabilities.
Label Text associated with a form control (like a text input or button) that provides information about its purpose.
NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) A free, open-source screen reader for Windows that enables individuals who are blind or visually impaired to access and interact with digital content using auditory feedback or Braille displays.
Screen Reader Software that reads aloud text displayed on the screen, used primarily by individuals who are blind or have low vision.
Sign Language A visual language that uses hand shapes, facial expressions, and body movements to convey meaning, primarily used by individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Speech Recognition Technology that converts spoken language into text or commands, allowing users to interact with devices and applications through voice input.
Semantic HTML Using HTML elements that clearly describe their meaning in a human- and machine-readable way, enhancing accessibility and SEO.
Tab Order The order in which focusable elements receive focus when navigated via the keyboard using the "Tab" key.
Text-to-Speech (TTS) Technology that converts written text into spoken words, assisting users with visual impairments or reading disabilities.
Universal Design The practice of creating products and environments that are accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability, or other factors.
Usability The measure of how easy and efficient it is for users to accomplish their goals on a website.
VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) A document that evaluates how accessible a product is according to accessibility standards, typically used to assess compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Validation The process of checking that a web page's HTML code complies with the standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
Voice Recognition Technology that allows users to control their computer and dictate text by speaking, beneficial for users with mobility impairments.
Video Accessibility Implementing features such as captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions to ensure video content is accessible to individuals with hearing or visual impairments.
W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) An international community that develops open standards to ensure the long-term growth of the Web, including guidelines for web accessibility.
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) A set of guidelines created by the W3C to help make web content more accessible to people with disabilities.
Web Accessibility The practice of designing and developing websites that can be used effectively by people with various disabilities including blind, motor impaired, visually impaired, color blind, dyslexia, cognitive & learning, seizure & epileptic, and ADHA.
Web Accessibility Compliance Adhering to established accessibility standards and guidelines, such as WCAG, to ensure a website is accessible to all users.
Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) A program by the W3C that develops strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the web accessible to people with disabilities.
Zoom Text A feature in accessibility design that enlarges text and images on a screen, assisting users with low vision.