Glossary

U.S. federal law enacted in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public services, accommodations, and telecommunications.

HTML alt attribute that describes the content and function of an image. Helps screen reader users understand visual content.

Hardware or software that helps people with disabilities use devices and software, including screen readers, voice recognition, and braille displays.

Automated accessibility testing tool by Deque Systems. Detects WCAG violations in browsers and development environments.

Model underlying WHO ICF. Understands disability as a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Text representation of dialogue, sound effects, and music in video. Required by WCAG 1.2.2 (prerecorded) and 1.2.4 (live).

Luminance ratio between foreground and background colors. WCAG AA requires 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text and UI components.

Degree of meeting WCAG success criteria. Level A (minimum), Level AA (common adoption target), Level AAA (highest).

EU ICT accessibility procurement standard. Incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA and extends scope to software, documents, and hardware.

Programmatically moving keyboard focus. Used when opening/closing modals, SPA routing, and error handling to guide users to the correct element.

Order of navigation via the Tab key. WCAG 2.4.3 requires a meaningful sequence.

Using h1-h6 elements to express content hierarchy. A primary navigation method for screen reader users.

Windows screen reader by Freedom Scientific. One of the most widely used assistive technologies in enterprise and government.

Principle of making all functionality usable with a keyboard alone. Required by WCAG 2.1.1.

ARIA roles that identify page regions. Defined using HTML5 sectioning elements (header, main, nav, footer) or explicit role attributes.

Views disability as an individual's physical or mental impairment. Aims to bring the individual closer to 'normalcy' through treatment or rehabilitation.

Free, open-source Windows screen reader by NV Access. Widely used for accessibility audits and development testing.

Four core WCAG principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust.

Assistive technology that outputs screen text and UI information as speech or braille. Primarily used by people with visual impairments and dyslexia.

U.S. law mandating accessibility of electronic and IT developed or procured by federal agencies. 2017 refresh requires WCAG 2.0 AA.

Using HTML elements that convey meaning and role. Elements like nav, main, article, and button provide built-in accessibility tree roles.

Perspective that disability is caused by social/structural barriers, not the individual. Core concept in IAAP CPACC.

Testable unit criterion in WCAG. Each SC has a conformance level of A, AA, or AAA.

Built-in screen reader for Android devices. Enables people with visual impairments to use Android apps through gestures and navigation modes.

International human rights treaty adopted in 2006. Guarantees accessibility as a right for persons with disabilities and requires removal of social barriers.

Designing products, environments, and programs to be usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without adaptation. Includes 7 principles.

Built-in screen reader for Apple macOS, iOS, and iPadOS. The standard for accessibility testing on iPhone and Mac.

Document template describing how a product meets accessibility standards. Commonly required in U.S. public sector procurement.

W3C specification defining roles, properties, and states that supplement HTML to improve accessibility of complex UI components.

WHO framework for classifying disability and health. Distinguishes body functions/structures, activities, participation, and environmental factors.

Web accessibility evaluation tool by WebAIM. Visually marks errors and is beginner-friendly for understanding accessibility issues.

International web accessibility standard by W3C WAI. WCAG 2.2 is the latest version, defining A, AA, and AAA conformance levels.

W3C five-step accessibility evaluation procedure. Systematically guides scope definition, sampling, testing, and reporting.