Glossary

A short way to write "accessibility." It shows the first and last letter, with 11 letters in between.

Ableism means treating disabled people as less valuable or less able. It’s the idea that there is one “typical” way to think, move, or communicate, and anyone different is a problem. Ableism can be direct, like not giving someone a job because they have a disability. It can also be subtle, like using transparency in your user interface designs, which might look stylish but can make things hard to read or use for many people. Ableism also shows up in everyday language. For example, a person may say, “I am so OCD,” without understanding what OCD really means. Often, ableism is built into rules, buildings, or digital products, sometimes without people even realizing it. Fighting ableism means changing these ideas and making things work for all kinds of bodies and minds.

Things that make it harder or impossible for someone to use a product, service, or environment. These can be physical, digital, social, or attitudinal like small text, missing captions, confusing language, or biased assumptions.

Making things usable for everyone, including people with disabilities.

A detailed review of a website, app, or digital product to find accessibility barriers. Audits check how well something meets standards like WCAG and often include suggestions for fixes. They can be done by experts or using automated tools, but human review is key.

Accommodations are changes that help disabled people access things in a fair way. An accommodation is any support, tool, or adjustment that helps someone take part fully at school, work, or in public. Some examples are extra time on tests, a quiet space for meetings, screen readers, ramps, or being allowed to take breaks when needed. Accommodations are not special treatment. They make sure everyone has a fair chance to succeed. The right accommodation is different for each person, and for many people, these needs can change from day to day. This is especially true for people who are dynamically disabled or neurodivergent, because what helps one day might not be enough on another.

ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Some people still use “ADD,” which stands for Attention-Deficit Disorder. Today, ADHD is the main term used by doctors, but many people use both words. ADHD is a brain difference that can affect attention, self-control, and planning. People with ADHD might get distracted easily, have trouble sitting still, or forget steps in a task. Some people with ADHD also “hyperfocus,” which means they get very absorbed in things they find interesting. ADHD is not about being lazy or not caring. It is just a different way for the brain to work. Many people with ADHD are creative, energetic, and see things from new angles.

A person who is not autistic. This word helps show the difference between autistic and non-autistic people.

A short description of an image. Alt text helps people who use screen readers understand what is in a picture, chart, or graphic. If someone can’t see the image, the alt text tells them what they need to know. Good alt text is clear and simple. For example, instead of saying “photo,” you might write “A person reading a book in a sunny park.” Adding alt text to images is an important part of making websites and digital tools accessible to everyone.

A term used by people who are both autistic and have ADHD. It highlights the experience of having both neurodivergent identities, which often overlap but also create unique challenges. Many people find the term helpful in naming how their brain works.

Autism is a brain difference that shapes how a person thinks, feels, communicates, and experiences the world. It is a natural way for some people’s brains to work. Some people call autism a disability, while others see it as an important part of who they are. Many people feel it is both. Every autistic person is different. Some autistic people experience the world in ways that do not match what society expects, especially in social situations or with sensory input like sounds, lights, or touch. Many autistic people communicate and connect in ways that are not always recognized or supported by others. There is no one way to be autistic, and everyone’s access needs are unique.

“Autist” is a word that some people use to describe themselves as autistic. It is an identity-first term often used within the autistic community. Many people choose this word to show pride in being autistic and to connect with others who share similar experiences. Not everyone uses the term, so it’s best to ask what language someone prefers.

Text on videos that shows what people are saying and other sounds. They help people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Cognitive accessibility means making things easier to understand and use for people who think, learn, or process information in different ways. This includes things like clear language, simple layouts, helpful instructions, and tools that reduce confusion or overload. Cognitive accessibility supports everyone, but it is especially important for people with brain differences, learning disabilities, or who are under a lot of stress. It is about removing barriers so more people can take part, not just meeting a checklist.

Cognitive diversity is the range of ways people think, learn, solve problems, and process information. It includes differences in memory, attention, reasoning, and learning styles. It can come from brain differences like autism, ADHD, or dyslexia, but also from lived experiences, culture, and background. When teams value cognitive diversity, they find new ideas and build more inclusive solutions that work for more people.

How much brain power it takes to do something or understand it.

The difference between two colours. Good contrast helps text and images stand out clearly.

Deaf means a person experiences the world without typical hearing. Many Deaf people use sign language and are part of the Deaf community, which has its own culture, identity, and ways of sharing information. Some use hearing aids, cochlear implants, or lip reading, but not all do. Access barriers often come from society and technology that are built only for people who hear. True accessibility means creating spaces and tools where Deaf people can take part fully, using the ways of communicating that work best for them.

A movement that focuses on fairness, access, and support for all disabled people, especially those with many identities.

The double empathy problem describes how misunderstandings can go both ways between autistic and non-autistic people. Communication challenges are shared, not just something autistic people experience alone.

Dyscalculia is a learning difference that affects how a person understands numbers, math, or patterns. Barriers often come from teaching methods or tools that assume everyone learns math the same way.

Dyslexia is a learning difference that changes how a person reads, writes, and spells. Challenges often come from reading-heavy systems or materials that are not designed for all ways of processing information.

A way to describe people whose access needs change from day to day or moment to moment. This can include people with chronic illness, pain, fatigue, or neurodivergent conditions that fluctuate. It pushes back on the idea that disability is always static or visible.

Epilepsy is a brain condition where a person has repeated seizures, which are sudden changes in movement, awareness, or feelings. Accessible design means avoiding things like flashing lights or patterns that can trigger seizures for some people.

Designing spaces so that everyone, including people with disabilities, can use them easily.

Giving people the support they need so everyone has a fair chance to succeed. Equity is not the same as equality. Equality means giving everyone the same thing, but equity means giving people what they actually need. Some people confuse the two, but equity is about fairness, not sameness.

Executive function is a set of mental skills that help people plan, stay focused, manage time, and complete tasks. Barriers often come from workplaces or schools that expect everyone to manage tasks the same way.

Small tools like spinners or squishy items that help with focus, calm, or sensory needs. Many neurodivergent people use them.

When flashing lights or images cause discomfort or health issues, like seizures.

Hiring someone part-time or for a short-term project instead of full-time.

A point where something becomes so confusing or hard to use that someone gives up. This affects many neurodivergent users.

When someone has trouble doing everyday tasks in a typical way.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is a condition where a person feels worried or anxious most of the time, even without a clear reason. Barriers often come from fast-paced or high-pressure environments that do not support someone's mental health needs.

Design rules that explain how people see patterns or groups in visual content. They help make things easier to understand.

A way to calm down during stress by using the senses or focusing the mind.

A setting on devices that keeps someone in one app. It helps people stay focused or avoid accidental taps.

Titles that show how content is organized. Headings help everyone, especially screen reader users, find what they need faster.

A display setting that makes text and images stand out more. It helps people with low vision read more easily.

When someone gets very deeply focused on one thing and has a hard time switching attention.

When someone is extra sensitive to things like noise, light, or touch.

Creating things that work for the widest range of people, from the very start.

How content is organized and labeled. Good structure helps people find and understand things faster.

A condition where someone learns and processes information more differently. It also affects daily living skills.

Intersectionality is a word first used by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. It means different parts of who you are, like race, gender, disability, or class, combine and shape your life. Sometimes these parts overlap and make things harder for some people. Intersectionality helps us see how some people face more barriers because of who they are, and why it’s important to work for fairness for everyone.

A group of conditions that make it harder to learn in typical ways. It can affect reading, writing, or math.

Understanding words and phrases exactly as they are said, without reading between the lines. This is a natural thinking style for many people, including some neurodivergent individuals. Metaphors, jokes, or indirect language can sometimes create confusion, not because someone is wrong, but because communication isn't always designed for all thinking styles.

Low vision means someone has trouble seeing clearly, even when using glasses or contact lenses. People with low vision may need large print, high contrast, or assistive technology to read and take part in daily activities.

Masking is when someone hides parts of who they are to fit in. This often means copying others or holding back natural ways of moving, talking, or reacting. Many autistic people and other neurodivergent folks mask to avoid judgement or bullying. Masking is exhausting and can make it harder for people to be themselves or get the support they need.

A strong reaction to too much stress or sensory input. It’s not a tantrum, it’s how some people, especially neurodivergent folks, release overload.

Microaggressions are small, often unintentional comments or actions that hurt or exclude people from marginalized groups. For disabled people, these comments often come from ableism, such as saying “You don’t look disabled” or ignoring someone’s access needs. Microaggressions can make people feel unwelcome or misunderstood, even if the person did not mean harm.

A tool that helps someone move around more easily. Examples include canes, walkers, and wheelchairs.

A person who has more than one neurodivergent identity, like being both autistic and having ADHD. Each neurotype may show up in different ways, and the combination often creates a unique experience that isn’t just the sum of its parts.

Neurodivergent describes a person whose brain works differently from what most people think of as “typical”. This includes people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s, and other brain differences. Being neurodivergent is not a problem or a flaw. It is a natural and important part of human diversity. The word helps people talk about their own experiences and push for changes to systems that are not built for all types of minds.

The idea that brain differences are a natural and valuable part of being human. Neurodiversity means there is no one “right” way for a brain to work, and these differences should be respected like any other kind of diversity. The word was coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in her 1998 honours thesis. She saw it as the start of a new social movement based on the value of neurological diversity.

Neuroinclusive means welcoming and including people with different types of brains. It is about building spaces, systems, and experiences that work for everyone, not just people who think or process information in typical ways. Neuroinclusive practices look for barriers and remove them, so all kinds of minds can take part and belong.

Creating things that work for people with different brain styles and needs.

The term “neuroqueer” was first used by Dr. Nick Walker, who defined it as the act of breaking away from narrow ideas about what is “typical” for brains, bodies, and ways of living. To neuroqueer means to question and resist pressure to fit into society’s usual rules for how to think, act, or be. For me, neuroqueering is about showing up as my true self, creating new ways of connecting and belonging, and not forcing myself into boxes that don’t fit. Some people use “neuroqueer” as an identity, meaning their way of living or thinking has been shaped by these practices, no matter what gender, sexual orientation, or brain style they were born with. You can read more in Dr. Nick Walker’s introduction at Neuroqueer.com.

The belief that there’s one “right” or “typical” way for brains to work. This idea often shapes how schools, workplaces, and systems are built.

A person whose brain works in a way that fits what society sees as “typical.”

The way someone’s brain works and processes the world. Everyone has a neurotype, it’s just part of who you are.

Health issues that affect the brain and nerves. Examples include epilepsy, autism, ADHD, and Parkinson’s.

Non verbal cues are ways of communicating without words, like facial expressions, body language, or tone of voice. Not everyone uses or understands non verbal cues in typical ways.

A disability rights principle stating that disabled people must be at the center of decisions that affect their lives. It challenges both exclusion and tokenism.

A condition with unwanted thoughts and repeated actions that feel hard to stop.

Helping someone get started with a new product, job, or system. Good onboarding explains things clearly and simply.

A font designed to make reading easier for people with dyslexia. The letters are weighted to help prevent flipping or confusion.

When there is too much noise, light, or activity for someone to handle. It can lead to stress, shutdowns, or meltdowns.

Plain language means writing that is easy to read and understand the first time. It helps everyone, especially people with cognitive or learning disabilities. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) include rules about clear language because plain language is a key part of digital accessibility and is often required for compliance. Learn more about plain language in WCAG at WCAG: Understanding Meaningful Supplements.

A mental health condition caused by trauma. It can lead to flashbacks, anxiety, and feeling on edge.

How quickly someone can take in and respond to information.

A design method that shows only the most important information first. It helps people focus and not feel overwhelmed.

The order that content is read by screen readers. It should match how people naturally read the page.

A change that helps a person with a disability take part fully in work, school, or daily life.

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is a strong emotional reaction to feeling rejected or criticized, often linked with ADHD and some other neurodivergent experiences. It can cause intense sadness, anxiety, or anger even from small setbacks.

Fixing problems in websites or documents to make them more accessible.

Making websites and apps that work well on different devices and screen sizes.

A program that reads text on a screen out loud. It helps people who are blind or have low vision.

Self-regulation is the ability to manage your own emotions, thoughts, and actions. It helps people stay calm, focused, and make choices that match their goals.

Code that shows the meaning of content, not just how it looks. This helps screen readers and improves accessibility.

When the brain has trouble handling information from the senses, like sound, touch, or light.

Social models are ways of understanding disability that focus on barriers in society, not just on a person’s body or mind. The social model says that people are disabled by inaccessible environments and attitudes, not just by their own differences.

Societal norms are the rules or expectations about how people should behave, think, or look in a given society. These norms often shape what is seen as “typical” or “acceptable.”

Repeating actions like rocking or hand-flapping. It helps some people, especially those who are autistic, feel calm or focused.

The order you move through parts of a website when using the Tab key. It should follow a logical path for keyboard users.

Things like video or audio that play over time. They often need captions or transcripts to be accessible.

Tokenism means including someone from an underrepresented group just to look inclusive, without giving them real influence or listening to their voice. Tokenism can make people feel excluded, even when they are present.

A condition where a person makes movements or sounds they can’t easily control. These are called tics.

A trigger warning is a heads-up that content might be upsetting or bring back traumatic memories. Best practice is to let people know before you start a heavy conversation, show difficult images, or share stories that might be distressing. This gives people time to prepare themselves or choose not to take part. Trigger warnings help create safer, more respectful spaces for everyone.

When someone stops hiding parts of themselves, especially if they’re neurodivergent. It’s about being authentic instead of blending in.

Making things that work for as many people as possible, without needing changes later.

Watching real people use a product to find out what’s confusing or hard to use.

The steps a person takes when using a product or service. It helps designers understand how to make the experience better.

A made-up profile that represents a type of user. It helps teams design with real needs in mind, including accessibility. When creating personas that reflect disabled or neurodivergent people, it’s important to avoid stereotypes and generalizations. Grounding personas in lived experience and input from real people leads to more respectful, accurate, and inclusive design decisions.

How someone feels when they use a website, tool, or service. The experience of good UX should be easy, clear, and accessible for everyone.

A health issue that affects balance and how the body senses movement.

A chart or tool with pictures that shows what will happen during the day. It helps with routines and planning.

Too many things on a screen that make it hard to focus or understand. This can overwhelm people, especially those with sensory sensitivity.

Apple’s built-in screen reader. It reads text and buttons out loud on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Tools and signs that help people figure out where they are and where to go, in both digital and physical spaces.

WCAG is a set of guidelines that help make websites and digital tools work for everyone. The guidelines cover things like text alternatives for images, proper headings, good colour contrast, and making sure everything can be used with a keyboard. WCAG helps teams catch common access barriers, but it’s just a starting point. Even if a site meets WCAG, it can still be confusing or overwhelming for neurodivergent users. True inclusion means testing with real people and making things clear, simple, and consistent.

A person who uses a wheelchair to get around. A wheelchair is a mobility tool that provides freedom and independence.

The part of your brain that holds small bits of information while you’re using them. It helps with tasks like math, reading, and planning.