Glossary

Search results

Early Intervention(also: EI, Early Childhood Intervention)

Services and support provided to infants and young children (typically birth to age 3 or 5) with developmental delays or disabilities, and their families. For DHH children, early intervention is critical and includes sign language instruction, speech-language therapy,…

Early Intervention(also: EI, Early Childhood Intervention)

Early intervention refers to services and supports provided to infants and young children (typically from birth to age six) who have developmental delays, disabilities, or conditions that place them at risk for developmental difficulties. The aim is to reduce or compensate for…

Early intervention(also: Early childhood intervention, EI)

A system of services and supports provided to infants and young children with developmental delays or disabilities, typically from birth to age three, and their families. Early intervention can include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavioral…

Educational Technology(also: EdTech, Learning Technology, Instructional Technology)

The use of technological tools and resources to facilitate teaching and learning. In accessibility contexts, educational technology encompasses assistive tools designed to support students with disabilities, such as screen readers, refreshable Braille displays, auditory graphing…

Edutainment(also: Educational Entertainment, Learning Games)

Content or applications that combine education with entertainment, typically through games, interactive media, or engaging activities designed to teach skills while keeping users motivated and engaged. In the accessibility context, edutainment apps must balance engaging visual…

Embodied Learning(also: Embodied Cognition, Kinesthetic Learning)

A learning approach that engages the whole body in the process of understanding, not just the mind. Embodied learning recognizes that physical movement, touch, spatial navigation, and bodily interaction with environments contribute fundamentally to how people construct…

Embodied cognition(also: Embodied learning, Enactive cognition)

A theoretical framework proposing that cognitive processes are deeply shaped by the body's interactions with its physical environment — that thinking is not purely abstract but is grounded in sensory experience, motor action, and bodily engagement with materials. In…

Embodied participation(also: Embodied presence)

The experience of being physically present and actively engaged in a shared space through one's body or a technological proxy for it. In accessibility contexts, embodied participation refers to how technologies like telepresence robots can provide remote users with a physical…

Emergent Literacy(also: Early Literacy, Pre-literacy)

The developmental process through which young children (typically birth through age 5) acquire foundational skills and concepts about reading and writing before formal instruction begins. For sighted children, picture books and illustrations play a crucial role by providing…

Emotional Safety(also: Psychological Safety)

A condition in which individuals feel secure enough to participate, take risks, and make mistakes without fear of embarrassment, judgment, or social stigma. In accessible learning environments, emotional safety is critical for people with disabilities who may feel self-conscious…

Empathetic technical support(also: Humanizing tech support)

Technical assistance that combines practical problem-solving with emotional attunement to the user's affective state, particularly important when supporting disabled users who may experience frustration, anxiety, or overwhelm from technology difficulties. In educational…

English Literacy(also: Reading Literacy, English Reading Literacy)

The ability to read, write, and comprehend written English. In the context of deaf and hard-of-hearing accessibility, English literacy is a significant consideration because many DHH individuals — particularly those who are native ASL users — may have lower levels of English…

English as a Second Language(also: ESL, ENL, ELL)

English as a Second Language (ESL) refers to the teaching and learning of English by speakers of other languages. In accessibility contexts, language barriers are recognized as a significant form of exclusion, affecting over 1.5 billion English learners worldwide who may…

Error Taxonomy(also: Error Classification, Error Typology)

A systematic classification of the types of errors that users or learners commonly make, organised into categories based on the nature, source, or linguistic level of the error. In accessibility and educational technology, error taxonomies are used to build intelligent systems…

Errorless Learning(also: Errorless Teaching, Error-Free Learning)

Errorless learning is a teaching methodology that structures tasks so that learners are guided toward correct responses and prevented from making mistakes during the learning process. In accessible technology design, this translates to systems that do not allow incorrect actions…

Exam Accommodation(also: Test Accommodation, Assessment Accommodation)

Modifications to examination conditions that enable students with disabilities to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities on an equal basis. Exam accommodations for students with vision impairments include extra time, Braille question papers, use of scribes, screen reader…

Expanded Core Curriculum(also: ECC)

A specialized curriculum for blind or visually impaired (BVI) students that supplements traditional academics with skills that sighted students typically learn through observation. The ECC covers nine areas of instruction: compensatory skills, sensory efficiency, orientation and…

Experiential Learning Theory(also: ELT)

An educational theory emphasizing the value of hands-on experiences and reflection in learning. Developed by David Kolb, it posits that effective learning occurs through a cycle of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active…

Experiential learning(also: Learning by doing, Experience-based learning)

Experiential learning is a pedagogical approach in which knowledge and skills are acquired through direct, concrete experience rather than passive instruction. Grounded in theories by Kolb and others, it involves a cycle of experiencing, reflecting, conceptualising, and…

Extended Digital Scaffolding(also: WhatsApp-Based Scaffolding)

A new zone in the Digital Scaffolding Framework that extends classroom-based digital skills training through ongoing support via digital communication platforms such as WhatsApp groups. In this zone, trainers continue to assist participants after formal training ends,…

Extraneous Cognitive Load(also: Extraneous Load)

One of three types of cognitive load identified by cognitive load theory, referring to the unnecessary mental effort caused by poor instructional design or interface presentation rather than the learning material itself. Extraneous load arises from confusing layouts, irrelevant…

FERPA(also: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, Buckley Amendment)

A United States federal law enacted in 1974 that protects the privacy of student education records. FERPA gives parents and eligible students (those over 18 or attending postsecondary education) rights to access, review, and request corrections to their educational records. The…

Family-Centered Learning(also: Family-Centered Education)

An educational approach that actively involves family members in the learning process, recognizing that home environments and family participation significantly impact learning outcomes, often more than school-based interventions alone. In the context of DHH children,…

Financial Literacy

The knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about money — including understanding income, expenses, saving, debt, interest, credit, taxes, insurance, and benefits programs. For accessibility, financial literacy intersects with numeracy, reading accessibility, and…

Flexible Learning(also: Flexible Instruction, Flexible Pedagogy)

An educational approach that provides students with choices in how, when, where, and at what pace they learn. Flexible learning may include options such as recorded lectures that can be watched at variable speeds, asynchronous participation, multiple formats for content…

Gallaudet University

A federally chartered private university in Washington, D.C., and the only university in the world designed specifically for deaf and hard of hearing students, with all programs and services tailored to their needs. Founded in 1864 and named after Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, a…

Gamification(also: Game-Based Learning)

The application of game design elements and principles in non-game contexts to increase engagement, motivation, and learning outcomes. In reading accessibility, gamification has been used in literacy development tools for children with disabilities, including reading therapy…

Gaokao(also: National College Entrance Examination)

The national college entrance examination in mainland China, taken annually by high school students to determine admission to Chinese universities. Since 2017, the Chinese Ministry of Education has formally permitted reasonable accommodations for disabled students on the gaokao,…

Gaze Switching(also: Visual Attention Switching, Split Attention)

The act of shifting visual focus between two or more information sources, such as between captions and presentation slides in a classroom, or between a sign language interpreter and a speaker. Gaze switching is particularly costly for deaf and hard of hearing students who rely…

Generalization(also: Skill Generalization, Transfer of Learning)

The ability to apply a skill or concept learned in one setting, with one set of materials, or with one person, to new settings, materials, or people. Generalization is a major focus in autism education and therapy because autistic individuals may learn a skill in a specific…

Generative Thinking(also: Generative Cognition, Creative Problem Solving)

Generative thinking is the cognitive ability to spontaneously produce novel ideas, solutions, or approaches to problems without external prompting. In the context of autism and cognitive accessibility, generative thinking is significant because it is often considered impaired in…

Germane Cognitive Load(also: Germane Load)

One of three types of cognitive load identified by cognitive load theory, referring to the mental effort devoted to processing, constructing, and automating knowledge schemas — the productive cognitive work that leads to actual learning. Unlike extraneous load (which is…

Graph Literacy(also: Graphical Literacy, Graphicacy)

The ability to read, interpret, and construct graphs and other visual data representations. Graph literacy is a critical component of STEM education and is often tested as part of mathematics and science standards. For students with visual impairments, developing graph literacy…

Graphical Model(also: Visual Model, Graphical Representation)

In educational and accessibility contexts, a visual representation system that uses shapes, colours, spatial relationships, and physical manipulation to convey abstract concepts. Graphical models for mathematics represent numbers as groups of objects whose size corresponds to…

Guided Participation

Guided participation is a concept from Barbara Rogoff's developmental psychology describing how children learn through engaged collaboration with more experienced partners in everyday shared activities - not through formal instruction, but through side-by-side participation…

Hand-Over-Hand Technique(also: Hand-Over-Hand Guidance, Hand-Over-Hand Training)

A training and communication method commonly used with individuals who are blind or have visual impairments, where a trainer places their hands over the learner's hands to physically guide them through the motions of a task. This technique allows the learner to feel the correct…

Hand-Under-Hand Technique(also: Hand-Under-Hand Guidance, Hand-Under-Hand Training)

A training and communication method used with individuals who are blind or have visual impairments, where the learner places their hands on top of the trainer's hands to feel the movements being demonstrated. Unlike hand-over-hand guidance where the trainer controls the…

Higher Education Accessibility(also: University Accessibility, Postsecondary Accessibility)

The policies, practices, accommodations, and technologies that ensure students with disabilities can participate fully and equitably in college and university programs. Higher education accessibility encompasses physical campus access, digital content accessibility, classroom…

Hyperstory(also: Interactive Story, Branching Narrative, Hypertext Story)

A hyperstory is an interactive, non-linear narrative structure in which users make choices that influence the direction and outcome of the story. Adapted from hypertext concepts, hyperstories combine storytelling with interactive exploration, allowing users to navigate through…

IDEA(also: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)

A United States federal law enacted in 1990 (reauthorized in 2004) that guarantees students with disabilities the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment. IDEA requires schools to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)…

IEP(also: Individualized Education Program, Individualized Education Plan)

A legally mandated written plan in the United States, developed annually by a team including parents, teachers, and specialists, that sets out the specific educational goals, services, accommodations, and assistive technologies required for a student aged 3–21 with a qualifying…

Immersive Storytelling(also: Interactive Narrative, VR Storytelling)

A narrative approach that places users inside a story environment, allowing them to experience and interact with the narrative through spatial presence, sensory engagement, and active participation. In therapeutic and accessibility contexts, immersive storytelling can scaffold…

Impostor Syndrome(also: Impostor Phenomenon, Impostorism)

A psychological pattern in which individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as fraudulent despite evidence of competence. For people with disabilities, impostor syndrome is often intensified by ableist institutional structures: accommodations may be…

Incidental Learning(also: Observational Learning, Informal Learning)

Knowledge and skills acquired without deliberate instruction, typically through casual observation of the environment and other people. An estimated 80% of early childhood learning occurs incidentally through vision — watching how others make sandwiches, navigate social…

Inclusive Education(also: Inclusive Schooling, Mainstreaming)

An educational approach where students with disabilities learn alongside their non-disabled peers in mainstream classrooms, with appropriate supports, accommodations, and modifications to curriculum and instruction. Inclusive education contrasts with segregated schooling in…

Inclusive Employability(also: Inclusive Employment Practices, Disability-Inclusive Employment)

An approach to employment preparation, recruitment, and workplace practices that intentionally addresses the barriers faced by people from equity groups, including people with disabilities, in accessing and succeeding in employment. Inclusive employability goes beyond simply…

Inclusive Learning(also: Inclusive Education Design, Accessible Learning)

An educational approach that ensures all learners, including those with disabilities, can fully participate in and benefit from learning activities and materials. Inclusive learning involves designing curricula, content, and delivery methods that accommodate diverse abilities,…

Inclusive pedagogy(also: Inclusive teaching, Inclusive educational practice)

Teaching approaches and practices designed to ensure all students — including those with disabilities — can meaningfully participate in and benefit from educational experiences. Inclusive pedagogy goes beyond providing individual accommodations to reshape the learning…

Independent Living Skills(also: Daily Living Skills, ILS)

The practical skills needed to manage everyday tasks and routines autonomously, including personal hygiene, food preparation, household chores, money management, and time management. For people with disabilities, developing independent living skills is a core component of…

Individualized Education Plan(also: IEP, Individualized Education Program)

A legally binding document in the United States that outlines the special education services, accommodations, and goals for a student with a disability. IEPs are developed collaboratively by educators, parents, and specialists, and are mandated under the Individuals with…