A
Alternative Navigation
Alternative navigation is any type of assistive technology that replaces a standard keyboard or mouse. It is primarily used by those with physical mobility challenges.
Alternative Text
Alternative text ("alt text”) is an accessibility feature within image editors that makes image description text legible to screen readers.
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications)
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) are a set of HTML tags and attributes standardized by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) in order to make rich internet applications accessible to assistive technology.
Assistive Listening Device
An assistive listening device is a piece of technology that aids in audio comprehension or enhances hearing aid functionality, most often used by people with hearing difficulties or partial deafness.
Audio Description
Audio Description is a method of describing the visuals in multimedia presentations, primarily used by those who are blind.
B
Braille
Braille is a method of writing that uses dots punched into paper to represent letters, numbers, and words instead of using flat ink letters, primarily used by those who are blind.
Braille Display
A Braille display is a method of outputting text from a computer screen in Braille, used by those who are blind.
Braille Note Taker
A Braille Note Taker is a specialized computer that can both accept input or commands in Braille and output the results in Speech and Braille. It is primarily used by those who are blind.
Braille Printer
A Braille printer prints Braille documents from a computer, and is used by those who are blind, or anyone needing to produce Braille documents for the blind.
Brailler
A Brailler is a specialized typewriter that allows the quick and convenient hand production of Braille.
C
Captions
Captions are a text version of speech that provide information to people who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing, or by people who process written content better than audio. Captions are also useful for people who can’t turn audio on or are in a loud environment.
Chin Switches
Chin switches are a type of chin-operated input device. They are primarily used by those with physical challenges making it difficult for them to use a keyboard or voice control.
Cochlear Implant
A Cochlear implant is a small device that stimulates the cochlear nerve to improve hearing capabilities, most often used by those with severe hearing loss or partial deafness.
Color Contrast
Color contrast is the difference in brightness, saturation, and pigment of different elements of an image that make it more (or less) difficult to see.
D
Dragon Naturally Speaking
Dragon Naturally Speaking is voice recognition, dictation, and control software primarily used by those with physical challenges that make typing difficult.
F
Fingerspelling
Fingerspelling is a form of manual alphabet where someone uses their hands to sign a specific letter, most often used by people who are deaf.
FM System
An FM system is a type of assistive listening device that transmits speech directly from a specialized microphone into a hearing aid, used by people who have hearing aids.
J
JAWS (Job Access With Speech)
JAWS is a type of screen reader, primarily used by blind Windows users in a corporate environment.
N
Narrator
Narrator is the name of the screen reader functionality built-in to Windows, primarily used by those who are blind.
NVDA (Nonvisual Desktop Access)
NVDA is a type of screen reader, primarily used by blind Windows users in their home environments.
O
Optical Character Recognition
Optical character recognition is a method of recognizing written text and turning it into a digital document on a computer, primarily used by those who are blind and unable to read printed text.
Orca
Orca is the primary screen reader technology on the Linux platform, primarily used by those who are blind.
S
Screen Magnifier (also written as: Screen Magnification Software or Software Magnifier)
A screen magnifier is a type of assistive technology that magnifies the contents of a screen, increases color contrast, and performs other visual modifications to the screen making it easier to see for people who have low vision.
Screen Reader (also written as: Screenreader or Screen-reader)
A screen reader is a type of assistive technology that outputs on-screen text using text-to-speech, primarily used by those who are blind.
Seeing AI
Seeing AI is a free assistive application developed by Microsoft to recognize text and objects, primarily used by those who are blind.
Semantic markup
Semantic Markup refers to marking up documents in ways that provide information about the content itself rather than information about the visual styling of the content. It is critical to ensure that assistive technology users can understand your document.
Service Animal
A Service Animal is any animal that is trained to help humans with a disability accomplish a specific task.
Sign Language
Sign language is a natural language where people communicate using hands and bodily gestures instead of their mouth, primarily used by people who are deaf, hard of hearing, have hearing difficulty, or are unable to vocalize speech.
Sip and puff
This assistive technology is a form of switch system that sends signals through air pressure by having users sip (inhale) or puff (exhale) through a tube, straw or wand.
Speech synthesizer
A speech synthesizer (also known as Text-To-Speech) is a technology that turns written text into speech. It is used by those who are blind as part of a screen reader and as an assistive technology by those who are unable to speak.
Subtitles
Subtitles are written words on a screen that share dialogue of an audiovisual program (TV show, movie etc.) in real time, used by those unable to understand the spoken language of a video.
Switch system
This assistive technology is a category of alternative navigation where users can use a switch device (a device that has two states - on and off) to navigate a piece of technology (for example, a screen), and is primarily used by those with movement-limiting disabilities.
T
Tactile Sign Language
Tactile sign language is a form of communication that uses touch as the key mode of understanding and comprehension, most often used by those who are deafblind.
TalkBack
TalkBack is the primary screen reader on Android devices and is most often used by those who are blind.
Tecla
Tecla is a company that makes a range of switches, joysticks, and other controls primarily used by those with physical challenges that make movement and speaking difficult.
V
Video Magnifier
A video magnifier is a tool that enlarges content on a screen to make it easier to read text or view an image, most often used by people with vision difficulties or low vision.
Voice access
Voice access is the speech recognition and voice control technology created by Microsoft, and built-in to Windows 11 version 22H2.
Voice Control
This assistive technology is a voice recognition software for Apple products that allows users to control a computer using their voice, and is primarily used by those who cannot use a keyboard or mouse.
Voice recognition
Voice recognition is a type of assistive technology, primarily used by those who are unable to use a keyboard or mouse due to physical challenges.
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is the name of the screen reader functionality on Apple products, primarily used by those who are blind.