Glossary
Terms used in accessibility research and practice. Each entry has a definition, common aliases, and category tags.
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- Activity schedule(also: Visual schedule, Picture schedule)
- A visual support tool that breaks down tasks or routines into sequential steps represented by photographs, pictograms, or text, enabling individuals with autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or cognitive impairments to independently follow procedures without…
- Applied behavior analysis(also: ABA, Behavior modification, Lovaas method)
- A therapeutic approach based on the science of learning and behavior, widely used in interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder. ABA uses systematic reinforcement — rewarding desired behaviors with objects, food, praise, or other motivators — to teach new skills…
- Asperger Syndrome(also: Asperger's Syndrome, AS, Asperger's Disorder)
- A neurodevelopmental condition previously classified as a distinct diagnosis within the autism spectrum, characterized by difficulties with social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Unlike autistic…
- Developmental screening(also: Early developmental screening, Autism screening)
- A brief, standardized assessment process used to identify infants and young children who may be at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder. Common screening instruments include the Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (CHAT), the Screening…
- Interest-Based Personalisation(also: Interest-Based Customization, Special Interest Embedding)
- A software design strategy in which content, visuals, or activities are customised to reflect a user's personal interests or preferences in order to increase engagement and motivation. In the context of autism and developmental disabilities, interest-based personalisation…
- Low-Functioning Autism(also: LFA, Classic Autism, Level 3 Autism)
- A descriptor historically used to characterize individuals with autism spectrum disorder who have significant support needs, including limited or no verbal communication, intellectual disability, and difficulty with daily living skills. The term is increasingly considered…
- Oral Language(also: Expressive Oral Language, Spoken Language)
- Oral language is the system of spoken communication comprising articulation (producing speech sounds), vocabulary (tact or naming), grammar and linguistic structure, and pragmatic or conversational use. It is distinct from written language and from augmentative communication…
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder(also: PDD, PDD-NOS, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified)
- A historical diagnostic category encompassing a group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterised by delays in socialisation, communication, and restricted patterns of behaviour. Under the DSM-IV, Pervasive Developmental Disorders included autism, Asperger syndrome, childhood…
- Restricted Interest(also: Circumscribed Interest, Perseverative Interest, Fixated Interest)
- An intense, narrow focus on specific topics, objects, or activities that is characteristic of autism spectrum disorder. Restricted interests can range from common subjects like trains, maps, or specific fictional characters to highly unusual topics like electricity pylons or…
- Social Skills(also: Social Competence, Interpersonal Skills)
- The abilities required for effective social interaction, including communication, cooperation, turn-taking, perspective-taking, reading social cues, and responding appropriately in social contexts. Social skill development is a key intervention target for individuals with autism…
- Special Interests(also: Restricted Interests, Intense Interests)
- Special interests are focused, intense, and often enduring areas of passion commonly observed in autistic children and adults - such as trains, dinosaurs, specific cartoon characters, or numerical systems. Once framed deficit-wise in diagnostic criteria as "restricted…
- VB-MAPP(also: Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program)
- The VB-MAPP (Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program), developed by Mark Sundberg, is a criterion-referenced assessment and curriculum-planning tool for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Grounded in Skinner's analysis of verbal…
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