Digital Accessibility Terms

Accessible (also Accessibility)

A11y

The quality of being easy to approach, reach, enter, speak with, use, or understand (ref. Dictionary.com). The abbreviation comes from 11 characters between the A and Y. 

Accessible Name & Description Inspector

ANDI

ANDI is a web testing "favelet" or "bookmarklet" that provides automated detection of accessibility issues, reveals what a screen reader should say for interactive elements (the accessible name computation), and gives practical suggestions to improve accessibility. (Ref. Social Security Administration [SSA])

Accessible Rich Internet Applications

ARIA

A set of attributes that define ways to make web content and web applications more accessible to people with disabilities. (Ref. W3C Web Accessibility Initiative [WAI])

Accessibility Conformance Report

ACR

An in-depth evaluation of products, platforms, content, or services that identifies features and functions that do not fully conform to digital accessibility standards.  ACRs can be generated through various methods, including reports, checklists, or the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®).  (See GSA’s Request Accessibility Information from Vendors & Contractors)

Adobe Portable Document Format

PDF

A versatile file format that is an open format maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).and gives people an easy, reliable way to present and exchange documents - regardless of the software, hardware, or operating systems being used by anyone who views the document.  (Ref. Adobe)  For a PDF to be accessible, it must contain tags.  A logical tagged structure tree is used within each document to provide a meaningful reading order for content, as well as a method for defining structural elements’ role and relationship to page content. Within this tag structure, other properties such as alternative text and replacement text can be provided. (Ref. Adobe Accessibility)

Alternate Text (see also Text Alternative)

Alt Text

A hidden textual description on a meaningful image that provides an interpretation of the visual content. (See University of Minnesota Accessible U)

Alternative Input Device

-

Hardware or software solutions that allow users with a variety of impairments to access a computer in a different way. Examples include switches, pointing devices, and on-screen keyboards.  (See University of California Berkley Digital Accessibility)

Alternative Means

-

Providing individuals with disabilities access to the information or data involved by an alternative media, format, or technology that allows the individual to use the information or data. (See DC.gov Office of Disability Rights)

Americans with Disabilities Act

ADA

A law that protects people with disabilities in many areas of public life. (Ref. ADA.gov)

Assistive Technology

AT

Any item, piece of equipment, or system (whether acquired commercially, modified, or customized), that is commonly used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.  (Ref. Section508.gov Glossary)

Audio Description

AD

Narration added to a soundtrack to describe important visual details that cannot be understood from the main soundtrack alone.  Audio description, also called “video description” and “descriptive narration,” is a means to inform individuals who are blind or who have low vision about visual content essential for comprehension. (Ref. Section508.gov Glossary)

Closed Captions

CC

A transcription of dialogue, along with a written description of other audio elements (e.g., sound effects, music, or atmospheric sounds), time-synchronized with video content, and displayed as a text overlay.  Closed captions can be enabled or disabled and are visible only when turned on.  (Ref. Dictionary.com)

Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart

CAPTCHA

A Turing test is any system of tests designed to differentiate a human from a computer.  (Ref. Section508.gov Glossary)  Many CAPTCHA challenges are graphical in nature and require alternative means for users with disabilities to complete the challenge.

Color Contrast

-

Color contrast is the difference in brightness between foreground and background colors.  4.5:1 is the minimally accepted ratio between the foreground color (e.g., text, links, etc.) and the background color. (Ref. University of North Carolina (UNC) Digital Accessibility Office)  The Colour Contrast Analyser (CCA) is a helpful tool to check contrast levels.  The U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) has helpful information on Using Color.

Compliance (also Compliant)

-

The act or process of conforming, submitting, or adapting (as to a regulation or to another's wishes) as required or requested.  (See Dictionary.com)  The agency must comply with the Section 508 law.  (Ref. Section508.gov)

Conformance (also Conformant)

-

To act in accordance with, whereas ICT (products and services purchased or used) must be in accordance with the Revised Section 508 standards.  (See Dictionary.com and Section508.gov)

Content

-

Information and sensory experience to be communicated to the user by means of a user agent, that defines the content's structure, presentation, and interactions. (See Section508.gov Glossary)

Development (also Developer, software development)

Dev

Process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other technologies.  (Ref. Wikipedia)

Dictation

-

The action of saying words aloud to be typed, written down, or recorded. Also known as speech-to-text, voice recognition, and speech recognition.  (See Understood.org)

Digital Accessibility

DA

Inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent interaction with or access to, web content, digital tools, and technologies by people with disabilities.  (Ref. Georgetown Law)  Section508.gov offers Practical Reasons for Digital Accessibility. 

Document Object Model

(DOM)

A programming API for HTML and XML documents. It defines the logical structure of documents and the way a document is accessed and manipulated.  (Ref. W3.org)

Electronic Information Technology

EIT

Includes information technology and any equipment or interconnected system or subsystem of equipment that is used in the creation, conversion, or duplication of data or information.  (Ref. Cornell Law)  Superseded by Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

Enterprise Performance Life Cycle

EPLC

A structured approach to planning, managing, and overseeing HHS IT projects over their entire life cycle.  EPLC establishes a project management and accountability environment for HHS IT projects to achieve consistently successful outcomes that maximize alignment with Department-wide and individual OPDIV goals and objectives.  (Ref. HHS Policy for IT EPLC)

Equal Employment Opportunity

EEO

Federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.  (Ref. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)

Equivalent Facilitation

-

An alternative solution that is substantially equivalent or greater access to and use for people with disabilities.  (Ref. U.S. Access Board)

Exceptions

-

Revised Section 508 standards provide for a limited number of reasons noncompliant content can be maintained, used, procured, or developed by the federal government.  Anything that can be made accessible must be compliant.   Most exceptions only apply to specific features or functions.  Meaning the remainder of the system or product must conform.  (Ref.  Revised Section 508 Standards E202 General Exceptions)

Federal Acquisition Regulation

FAR

The primary regulation for use by all executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds.  Contains standard solicitation provisions and contract clauses and the various agency FAR supplements.  (Ref. GSA) See also Acquisition.gov.

Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act

FITARA

Outlines specific requirements related to agency CIO authority enhancements; enhanced transparency and improved risk management in IT investments; portfolio review; data center consolidation initiative; expansion of training and use of IT cadres; maximizing the benefit of the federal strategic sourcing initiative; and governmentwide software purchasing program.  FITARA codified elements of existing Federal CIO initiatives.  FITARA requires federal agencies to submit annual reports.  (Ref. CIO.gov)

Focus Order (also tab order)

-

Content can be navigated sequentially, and the navigation sequences affect meaning or operation, focusable components receive focus in an order that preserves meaning and operability.  (Ref. W3C.org)

General Services Administration

GSA

Helps manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies.  GSA manages federal property and provides contracting options for government agencies.  (Ref. USA.gov)

Header

-

The top row of a table that acts as a title for the type of information found in each column.  (Ref.  Colorado State University)  The first column of a table can serve as the title for each row. Table headers help users of assistive technology navigate and identify relationships between data. 

Heading

-

Phrases that communicate the organization of the content.  (Ref.  W3C)  Headings are often styled using formatting characteristics (e.g., bold, large font, color). 

HHS Acquisition Regulations

HHSAR

Serves as HHS’ FAR supplement.  (See HHS Acquisition Regulation)  Digital accessibility is addressed in Section 339 and includes required provisions/clauses. 

Images – Complex

-

Contain substantial information – more than can be conveyed in a short phrase or sentence.  (Ref. W3C)  Can  convey relationships, hierarchy, trends, etc. Examples: Chart, some screenshots, diagram, etc.

Images – Decorative

-

Non-essential to understanding the content and purpose of visual content.  For example, the information in the image may be conveyed in adjacent text or the image is for visual appeal.  (See W3C)

Images – Informative (also Meaningful)

-

Graphically represents concepts and information, typically pictures, photos, and illustrations. Text alternatives must be short descriptions that convey essential information presented by the image.  (Ref. W3 Images Tutorial)  Conveys information that, if removed, would result in a loss of content or context.  (See W3Schools)

Information and Communications Technology

ICT

“ICT” is an extension of “IT” that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of telecommunications and computers, as well as necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and audiovisual systems. ICT is a broad subject that covers any product that will store, retrieve, manipulate, transmit, or receive information electronically in a digital form.  (See National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Glossary and Section508.gov Glossary)

Information Technology

IT

Services, equipment, or interconnected system(s) or subsystem(s) of equipment, that are used in the automatic acquisition, storage, analysis, evaluation, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or information by the agency.  (See 40 U.S.C. 11101(6))

Information Technology Acquisition Review

ITAR

Formalizes, streamlines, and refines the way HHS IT acquisitions are forecasted, budgeted, governed, planned, and documented, as well as sufficiently supported in the pre-award phase of the acquisition lifecycle.  (Ref.  HHS Policy for Information Technology Acquisition Reviews (ITAR))

Logical Order (see also Reading Order)

-

The order in which assistive technology, such as text-to-speech, announces content to users.  In English, generally the logical order is top to bottom, left to right, or the visually implied reading order.  (See Colorado State University)

Magnification

-

Enlarges text and graphics on a computer screen. It is loaded into the computer’s memory and functions similarly to a magnifying glass moving over a page, following the cursor, and magnifying the area around it.  (Ref. American Foundation for the Blind)

Name, Role, State

-

Name: Text by which a component within content can be identified to the user.
Role: Text or number by which the function of a component within content can be identified.
State: A state is a dynamic property expressing characteristics of an object that may change in response to user action or automated processes.  (See W3C WCAG 2.1 Understanding SC 4.1.2)

Non-Text Content

-

Non-text content can take several forms.  Any content that is not a sequence of characters that can be programmatically determined or where the sequence is not expressing something in human language.  (See W3C WCAG 2.1 SC 1.1.1)

Open Captions

-

Permanent alternative text in a video or multimedia presentation. The user cannot activate or deactivate open captions, because they are integrated into the video or presentation. (Ref. Section508.gov Glossary)

Operable

-

Users must be able to operate the interface (the interface cannot require interaction that a user cannot perform).  (Ref. W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0)

Operating Division

OpDiv

HHS has 12 operating divisions, including nine agencies in the U.S. Public Health Service and three human services agencies. These divisions administer a wide variety of health and human services and conduct life-saving research for the nation, protecting and serving all Americans.  (Ref. HHS)

Owner

-

Content ownership is a key aspect of content strategy that empowers people to create, manage, and improve content across different channels and platforms.  Content owners are not necessarily writers or editors, but they have the authority and responsibility to ensure that the content they oversee is accurate, relevant, and consistent with the brand and user needs.  (Ref. Linkedin’s How do you train and support content owners to develop their skills and confidence?)  System and content owners are individuals or an HHS entity who serve as the primary point of contact and are responsible for the information and/or data provided within the ICT. 

Perceivable

-

Users must be able to perceive the information being presented (it can't be invisible to all their senses).  (Ref. W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0)

Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust

POUR

WCAG guidelines and success criteria are organized around four principles – Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.   There are many general usability guidelines that make content more usable by all people, including those with disabilities. However, WCAG 2.0 only includes guidelines that address problems particular to people with disabilities. This includes issues that block access or interfere with access to the Web more severely for people with disabilities.  (Ref. W3C WCAG 2.0 Understanding the Four Principles of Accessibility)

Reading Order (see also Logical Order)

-

The sequential, logical presentation of content by assistive technology. The order must follow the same visual presentation or as closely as possible that provides logical context.  (See Colorado State University)

Representative Testing

-

A representative sample is a sample from a larger group that accurately represents the characteristics of a larger population.  (Ref. Qualtrics’   Representative samples: What you need to know)

Robust

-

Users must be able to access the content as technologies advance (as technologies and user agents evolve, the content should remain accessible).  (Ref. W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0)

Sans Serif Font

-

Lacking the strokes stemming from letters that characterize them as serif fonts. Sans serif typefaces are often used to signify something clean, minimal, friendly, or modern.  (See Wikipedia)

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

504

Prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in any federally funded programs or activities and requires such programs to be accessible to people with disabilities. Section 504 also prohibits disability-based job discrimination of any kind and requires that employers make reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities.  (Ref. Section508.gov Glossary)

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

508

The law (29 U.S.C § 794 (d)) applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information comparable to the access available to others.  (Ref. Section508.gov)

Serif Font

-

Any of the short lines stemming from and at an angle to the upper and lower ends of the strokes of a letter.  (Ref. Wikipedia)

Screen Reader

-

A form of assistive technology that renders text and image content as speech or braille output. Essential for users with visual and some learning impairments.  (See American Foundation for the Blind’s (AFB) Screen Readers)

Speech-to-Text

-

Technology that enables human speech to be converted automatically into text. Also known as dictation.  (See Dictionary.com)

Staff Division

StaffDiv

The primary goal of the Department’s staff divisions is to provide leadership, direction, and policy and management guidance to the Department.  (Ref. HHS Strategic Plan Appendix B)

Styles

-

A set of predetermined formatting characteristics that can be applied to text items. Formatting is a part of the structure of the content, not simply visual features.  (See Montclair State University)

Subject Matter Expert

SME

An individual who is knowledgeable about the professional standards, requirements, and practices used within the discipline he/she represents (i.e., security, export control, technology transfer, counterintelligence, or intelligence).  (Ref. Department of Energy)

Synchronized Media (also Media, Multimedia, Time-Based Media)

-

Audio or video synchronized with another format for presenting information and/or with time-based interactive components.  (See WCAG Time-based Media Understanding Guideline 1.2)

Tables – Complex

-

A table that organizes data using more than a simple row/column structure. For example, cells are merged, categories of data may have subcategories, or data may belong to more than two categories.  (Ref. Section508.gov Glossary)

Tables - Layout

-

Used to provide some sort of visual structure to a page, such as columns. For accessibility reasons, table structure must not be used for layout purposes.  (See Oregon State University)

Tables - Simple

-

Each data cell relates to only one row and/or column header.  (See University of Washington)

Text Alternative (See also Alternate Text)

-

Text that is programmatically associated with non-text content or referred to from text that is programmatically associated with non-text content. Programmatically associated text is text whose location can be programmatically determined from the non-text content.  (See W3C WCAG 2.1 Understanding SC 1.1)

Understandable

-

Users must be able to understand the information as well as the operation of the user interface (the content or operation cannot be beyond their understanding).  (Ref. W3C Understanding WCAG 2.0)

Unicode

-

A universal character encoding standard that assigns a code to every character and symbol in every language in the world. Often it is not possible for assistive technology to properly interpret non-Unicode characters. Unicode values have appropriate names for comprehension.  (See Wikipedia)

United States Access Board (also Access Board)

USAB

A federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in inclusive design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards.  (Ref. U.S. Access Board)

United States Code

USC

A compilation of most public laws currently in force, organized by subject matter. When a law has been amended by another law, the U.S. Code reflects this change.  (Ref. Senate.gov)  Also see United States Code, 1994 to Present. 

United States Department of Health and Human Services

HHS

HHS was formed in 1953.  Its mission is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.  (Ref. HHS) 

Universal Design (also Inclusive Design)

-

Concept of designing all products and the built environment to be aesthetic and usable to the greatest extent possible by everyone, regardless of their age, ability, or status in life.  (See Section 508.gov)

Usable (also Usability)

-

The quality of a user's experience when interacting with products or systems, including websites, software, devices, or applications. Usability is about effectiveness, efficiency, and the overall satisfaction of the user.  (Ref. Usability.gov)

User Agent

-

Any software that retrieves and presents content to end users or is implemented using technologies.  (See Section508.gov Glossary) 

User Interface Component (also User Interface)

UI

A part of the content that is perceived by users as a single control for a distinct function.  Sometimes referred to as part of the Graphical User Interface (GUI).  (See Usability.gov User Interface Design Basics)

User Experience

UX

Encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with a company, services, and products. See also usable. (See Usability.gov User Experience Basics)

Voluntary Product Accessibility Template

VPAT®

The Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) is a document which evaluates how accessible a particular product is according to the Section 508 standards. It is a self-disclosing document produced by the vendor which details each aspect of the Section 508 requirements and how the product supports each criterion. A completed VPAT is known as an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).  (See Information Technology Industry Council)

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

WCAG

Developed in cooperation with individuals and organizations around the world, with a goal of providing a single shared standard for web content accessibility that meets the needs of individuals, organizations, and governments internationally.  Web “content” generally refers to the information in a web page or web application.  (Ref. W3C WCAG 2 Overview)

World Wide Web Consortium

W3C

Develops standards and guidelines to help everyone build a web based on the principles of accessibility, internationalization, privacy, and security.  (Ref. W3.org)