Avatar

A digital representation of a human user in a virtual environment that facilitates interaction with other users, entities, and the environment. Avatars range from simple floating hands to full-body representations and serve as the user's visual identity in VR. In accessibility contexts, avatar design raises important questions about disability representation—whether and how to depict disabilities, assistive devices like wheelchairs, and physical characteristics. Research shows disabled users generally want the option to represent their disabilities realistically but also want control over when disability is visible, with preferences varying significantly between gaming (where fantasy avatars are acceptable) and social VR (where realistic self-representation is preferred).