Glossary

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Word Embedding(also: Word Vector, Distributed Word Representation)

A technique in natural language processing that represents words as numerical vectors in a multi-dimensional space, where words with similar meanings are positioned closer together. Word embeddings enable computers to understand semantic relationships between words, which…

Word Error Rate(also: WER)

A standard metric for evaluating speech recognition and captioning accuracy, calculated as the number of insertions, deletions, and substitutions needed to transform the transcribed text into the reference text, divided by the total number of words in the reference. Lower WER…

Word Error Rate(also: WER)

A metric used to evaluate the accuracy of automatic speech recognition (ASR) and captioning systems, calculated as the number of word-level errors (insertions, deletions, and substitutions) divided by the total number of words in the reference transcript. Lower WER indicates…

Word Frequency(also: Lexical Frequency)

A measure of how often a word occurs in a given language or text corpus. High-frequency words like common function words are encountered regularly and recognized quickly, while low-frequency words are rarer and require more cognitive effort to process. Word frequency…

Word Lattice(also: Recognition Lattice, Speech Lattice)

A graph data structure produced by a speech recognizer that represents multiple competing word hypotheses explored during recognition, along with their acoustic and language model scores. Each path through the lattice represents a possible transcription of the spoken input. Word…

Word Prediction(also: Predictive Text, Word Completion)

A text input feature that suggests complete words based on the characters already typed, using language models to anticipate the most likely intended word. In assistive technology, word prediction is particularly valuable for single-switch users and people with motor…

Word Retrieval(also: Word Finding, Lexical Retrieval)

The cognitive process of accessing and selecting the correct word from memory to express an intended meaning during writing or speech. People with dyslexia frequently experience word retrieval difficulties, where they know the concept they want to express but cannot access the…

Word deafness(also: Pure word deafness, Auditory verbal agnosia)

A specific type of auditory agnosia in which a person can hear speech sounds but cannot comprehend spoken words, despite having normal hearing and the ability to read, write, and speak. People with word deafness describe speech as sounding like an unfamiliar foreign language or…

Word error rate(also: WER)

The standard metric for evaluating automatic speech recognition accuracy, calculated as the number of substitutions, deletions, and insertions divided by the total number of words in the reference transcript. Research with DHH users has shown that WER correlates poorly with…

Word importance(also: Lexical importance, Information content)

A measure of how critical a specific word is to the overall meaning of a sentence, typically computed using neural language models that estimate how predictable a word is from its context. In captioning evaluation, word importance helps determine the impact of ASR errors:…

Word sense disambiguation(also: WSD)

A natural language processing task that determines which meaning of a word is being used in a given context when the word has multiple possible meanings (polysemy). In accessibility applications, particularly automatic text simplification, WSD is essential for lexical…

Word-Finding Difficulty(also: Anomia, Word Retrieval Difficulty, Tip-of-the-Tongue)

A common symptom of aphasia where a person knows what they want to say but cannot retrieve the correct word. Word-finding difficulties can range from occasional pauses to severe impairment where even common words become inaccessible. The experience is often described as having a…

Word-Finding Difficulty(also: Word-Finding Deficit, Word Retrieval Difficulty)

A language impairment characterised by difficulty retrieving specific words during conversation or communication, despite the person knowing the word and its meaning. Word-finding difficulties are a hallmark symptom of aphasia and anomia but can also occur in other neurological…

WordNet

A large-scale electronic lexical database of the English language developed at Princeton University, in which nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are grouped into sets of cognitive synonyms (synsets) linked by semantic and lexical relations. WordNet is designed to model how…

Words Per Minute(also: WPM)

A standard measure of speech or reading speed, representing the number of words produced or comprehended in one minute. Typical human speech occurs at 120-180 WPM, average reading speed is 200-250 WPM, while experienced screen reader users can comprehend synthesized speech at…

Workaround(also: Hack, Alternative Strategy)

A method or technique used to bypass or overcome a limitation, barrier, or deficiency in a system, particularly when the intended functionality is inaccessible or broken. In accessibility, workarounds are strategies that disabled users develop to accomplish tasks when software…

Worker Assistance System(also: Digital Worker Assistance, Cognitive Assistance System)

Technology systems that support workers during the execution of work processes by providing interactive step-by-step instructions through text, images, videos, audio, and spatial hints. These systems are particularly valuable for workers with cognitive disabilities performing…

Workflow Accessibility(also: Accessible Workflow, End-to-End Accessibility)

The principle that every step in a multi-step process or workflow must be accessible for the entire process to be usable by people with disabilities. Workflow accessibility recognizes that a single inaccessible step in an otherwise accessible chain can create an insurmountable…

Working Memory

The cognitive system responsible for temporarily holding and manipulating information needed for complex tasks such as learning, reasoning, and comprehension. Working memory is a core executive function that is frequently impaired in ADHD, leading to difficulties with following…

Working memory(also: Short-term memory)

The cognitive system responsible for temporarily holding and manipulating information during complex tasks such as language comprehension, reasoning, and decision-making. Working memory has limited capacity, typically described as 7 plus or minus 2 items, and varies between…

Workplace Accessibility

The degree to which work environments, processes, tools, and cultures enable disabled employees to perform their jobs effectively and participate fully in workplace life. Workplace accessibility extends beyond physical access and assistive technology to include accessible…

Workplace Accommodation(also: Reasonable Accommodation, Job Accommodation)

Modifications or adjustments to a job, work environment, or work processes that enable a person with a disability to perform their job duties and participate equally in the workplace. Accommodations can include physical modifications (accessible workstations, ergonomic…

Workplace Accommodation(also: Reasonable Accommodation, Job Accommodation, Work Adjustment)

Modifications or adjustments to a job, work environment, or the way work is performed that enable a qualified person with a disability to perform essential job functions and enjoy equal employment opportunities. Workplace accommodations may include physical changes (accessible…

Workplace Inclusion(also: Inclusive Workplace)

The practice of creating work environments where all employees, including those with disabilities, can participate fully, contribute their skills, and access the same opportunities for development and advancement. Workplace inclusion goes beyond physical accessibility to…

Workplace accessibility(also: Employment accessibility, Accessible workplace)

The design of work environments, tools, processes, and practices that enable people with disabilities to participate fully and effectively in employment. Workplace accessibility encompasses physical accommodations (accessible offices, ergonomic equipment), digital accessibility…

Workplace disclosure model(also: Disclosure decision model, Joachim and Acorn framework)

A theoretical framework for understanding how individuals with invisible disabilities decide whether, when, and how to disclose their condition at work, and the outcomes that follow. The Joachim and Acorn model categorizes disclosure types by intention and timing: protective…

Workshop Accessibility(also: Accessible Workshop Design)

The practice of designing workshops, training sessions, and collaborative events to be fully participable by people with disabilities. Workshop accessibility encompasses multiple dimensions: physical environment (room layout, seating arrangements, accessible facilities),…

Workspace Awareness(also: Collaborator Awareness, Shared Workspace Awareness)

The up-to-the-moment understanding of another person's interactions within a shared workspace, including their location, actions, and intentions. In collaborative software development, workspace awareness encompasses knowing which file a colleague is viewing, what line they are…

World Design(also: Virtual World Design, Environment Design)

The creation and structuring of virtual environments in VR, including architecture, terrain, objects, lighting, and interactive elements. In accessibility contexts, world design directly impacts whether disabled users can navigate and engage with virtual spaces. Key…

World-Making(also: Worldmaking)

World-making, drawing on Nelson Goodman's 'Ways of Worldmaking' and extended in disability scholarship by Faye Ginsburg and Rayna Rapp, refers to the active construction of shared social worlds through symbols, practices and routines rather than the passive inhabitation of fixed…

World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages(also: ACTFL World-Readiness Standards, WRSLL, 5 Cs of Foreign Language Education)

A set of US national standards for language education published by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). The standards are organised around five goal areas — Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities (the "5 Cs") — and apply…

Wrapper(also: Web Wrapper, Data Wrapper)

In web accessibility and data extraction contexts, a reusable program that maps the visual layout of a web page to its underlying structured dataset by identifying records and fields within the HTML. Wrappers reverse the rendering process, extracting semantic structure from…

Wrapping(also: Focus Wrapping, Cursor Wrapping)

An interface navigation technique where the focus or cursor automatically returns to the beginning of a line, list, or group of elements when it reaches the end, or vice versa. In accessible interfaces designed for low bandwidth input, wrapping reduces the number of signals…

Wrist Gesture(also: Wrist-Based Gesture, Hand Gesture Input)

A movement of the wrist or hand used as an input command for interacting with wearable devices, particularly smartwatches. Wrist gestures enable one-handed, eyes-free interaction by allowing users to control their device using the same hand that wears the watch, without needing…

Written Choice(also: Written Choice Technique)

A therapeutic communication technique used with individuals who have aphasia, in which a conversation partner asks a question and then provides anticipated written answers for the person to choose from. This scaffolded approach reduces the language production demands on the…