Digital accessibility abbreviations and acronyms guide

Digital accessibility guide: abbreviations and acronyms.

Digital accessibility has many abbreviations and acronyms. Understanding these terms is essential for web developers, designers, and content creators who aim to create inclusive digital environments. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of common abbreviations and acronyms related to digital accessibility, elucidating their meanings and significance.

What’s an abbreviation?

An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word, phrase, or name. There are several types of abbreviations, including:

• Acronyms, which are terms pronounced as a single word, formed from the first letter of each main element in a phrase, for example, WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) in digital accessibility.
• Initialisms, which are terms pronounced as a series of letters, also formed from the first letter of each main element in a phrase, for instance, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) used in web development.
• Numeronyms, which use numbers, often mixed with letters, to represent a word, phrase, or name, such as a11y (accessibility) or i18n (internationalization 18 characters).
• Contractions or simple short forms, which are words or phrases shortened by dropping some letters, often within a single word, such as repo (repository), doc (document), or photo (photograph), whereas phrases can be shortened to a single word, like phone (telephone) or lab (laboratory).

Why it matters to understand digital accessibility abbreviations and acronyms?

Accessibility abbreviations and acronyms are often misunderstood and confused, even among professionals in the field. This can lead to miscommunication, misinterpretation, and incorrect implementation of accessibility features.

For example, some people may confuse WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) with Section 508, or think that ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) only applies to physical buildings, when in fact it also applies to digital products and services.

Additionally, the quite fast evolution of technology and accessibility standards can lead to confusion about which guidelines or regulations apply to a particular product or service. It’s essential to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and clarifications to ensure that accessibility features are implemented correctly and effectively.

Common abbreviations and acronyms

The following list of accessibility abbreviations and acronyms outlines those most frequently encountered in discussions about digital accessibility.

Digital acronyms

A11Y

Numerical abbreviation for accessibility

The term A11Y is a type of abbreviation known as a numeronym and is derived from the word accessibility, where A is the first letter, 11 represents the number of letters between A and Y, and Y is the last letter. This abbreviation is commonly used in social media (usually as a hashtag), online forums, and technical discussions to refer to accessibility-related topics.

AD

Audio Description

Audio Description (AD) refers to a narrative that provides a verbal description of visual elements in a video, film, or other multimedia content. The audio description is typically provided by a separate audio track that is synchronized with the original audio of the content.

The purpose of audio description is to provide an equivalent experience for individuals who are blind or have low vision, by describing the visual elements that are essential to understanding the content. This can include descriptions of actions, settings, characters, and other visual details that are not apparent from the audio alone.

AX

Accessibility Experience

Term used to describe the overall experience of using a product, service, or environment for people with disabilities. It encompasses the usability, accessibility, and inclusivity of a product or service, and how it meets the needs of users with disabilities.

CAPTCHA

Completely Automated Public Turing Test to tell Computers and Humans Apart

CAPTCHA is a type of challenge-response test used to determine whether the user is a human or a computer. It is designed to prevent automated programs, such as bots, from accessing a website, system, or network. There are different types of CAPTCHA, including text-based (requires the user to enter a sequence of characters or numbers), image-based (requires the user to identify objects or patterns in an image), audio-based (requires the user to listen to and repeat a sequence of numbers or words), and behavioral (requires the user to perform a specific action, such as clicking on a button or solving a puzzle).

D/HOH (DHOH)

Deaf/Hard of Hearing

D/HOH refers to the need to provide accessible communication methods and accommodations for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. This can include providing closed captions or subtitles on videos and other multimedia content, offering sign language interpretation or other communication accommodations, ensuring that audio content is also available in a visual or text-based format, and providing accessible communication methods, such as email or text messaging, for individuals who prefer to communicate in writing.

ID

Inclusive Design

Inclusive Design is a design approach that aims to create products, services, and environments that are accessible, usable, and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of their abilities, age, or background. The goal of Inclusive Design is to design solutions that are flexible and adaptable, so that they can be used by people with a wide range of abilities and needs.

IT

Information Technology

Refers to the use of computers, phones, and other digital devices to store, share, and manage information. It’s like a big system that helps us communicate, work, and play using technology. Think of it like a library, where you can store and access books (information) using computers and other devices.

QA

Quality Assurance

QA testers perform both automated and manual accessibility tests to identify barriers that may prevent users with disabilities from effectively interacting with digital content. This includes using various tools and assistive technologies to evaluate compliance with accessibility standards.

POUR

Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust

The POUR principles are essential WCAG guidelines for web accessibility, aimed at ensuring that digital content is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

Perceivable refers to the need for information and user interface components to be presented in ways that users can perceive. This means that all content should be accessible to the senses; for instance, text should be readable, and images should include alternative text descriptions.

Operable emphasizes that user interface components and navigation must be operable. It is crucial that users can interact with all elements of a website, regardless of their input method. This includes ensuring that all functionality is accessible via keyboard and that navigation is seamless without encountering barriers.

Understandable means that the information and operation of the user interface must be comprehensible. Users should be able to easily understand the content and how to interact with the interface. Key aspects of this principle include providing clear instructions, maintaining consistent navigation, and ensuring predictable behavior throughout the site.

Robust refers to the need for content to be reliable enough to be interpreted by a variety of user agents, including assistive technologies. This principle ensures that as technologies evolve, the content remains accessible, which involves adhering to standard coding practices for compatibility.

RTT

Real-Time Text

RTT allows text to be transmitted instantly as it is typed, enabling recipients to read messages character by character without delay. This technology operates over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, making it suitable for modern communication systems, including voice calls and messaging applications.

SME

Subject Mater Expert

Accessibility SMEs are professionals with specialized knowledge in creating and evaluating accessible digital content. They possess a deep understanding of accessibility standards, assistive technologies, and best practices for inclusive design. Their expertise allows them to guide organizations in making their websites and applications usable for individuals with various disabilities, including visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments.

STT

Speech to Text

STT, also known as speech recognition, is a technology that converts spoken language into written text. It uses microphones (either built-in or external) to capture speech and then processes it using computational linguistics and machine learning models.

UAT

User Acceptance Testing

UAT, also known as end-user testing, is the process where actual users validate that the software meets their requirements and performs as expected. Unlike earlier testing phases, which focus on technical aspects, UAT emphasizes the user experience and functionality from the end-user’s perspective.

Accessibility standards and laws

A/AA/AAA

Conformance levels of WCAG

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have three levels of conformance:

• A (Level A): this is the minimum level of conformance, and it includes basic requirements such as providing alternative text for images, ensuring closed captions for audio content, and making sure that users can navigate the website using only a keyboard.
• AA (Level AA): this level includes all the requirements from Level A, plus additional requirements such as ensuring that the website has sufficient color contrast, providing a clear and consistent navigation, and making sure that users can pause or stop moving content.
• AAA (Level AAA): this is the highest level of conformance, and it includes all the requirements from Levels A and AA, plus additional requirements such as ensuring that the website has a consistent layout, providing sign language interpretation for audio content, and making sure that users can customize the display of the website to suit their needs.

ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act

Americans with Disabilities Act is a civil rights law in the United States that prohibits discrimination based on disability. The ADA has implications for web accessibility, as it mandates that public accommodations, including websites, be accessible to individuals with disabilities.

AODA

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a landmark statute enacted in 2005 by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada. Its primary purpose is to improve accessibility standards for individuals with physical and mental disabilities across the province.

The AODA builds upon the earlier Ontarians with Disabilities Act of 2001, expanding its scope and introducing stricter requirements. It applies to a wide range of organizations and aims to ensure that individuals with disabilities can participate fully in society without facing unnecessary obstacles. For example, the law requires workplaces and websites to remove barriers to accessibility, ensuring that digital and physical spaces are inclusive.

APG

ARIA Authoring Practices Guide

The ARIA Authoring Practices Guide is a set of guidelines and best practices for creating accessible web content using ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes, which are a set of attributes that can be added to HTML elements to provide additional accessibility information to screen readers and other assistive technologies. It describes how to apply accessibility semantics to common design patterns and widgets, and provides design patterns and functional examples complemented by in-depth guidance for fundamental practices.

ATAG

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines

The Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) are a set of guidelines that provide recommendations for making authoring tools, such as content management systems, web editors, and other tools used to create web content, more accessible to people with disabilities. The ATAG guidelines are designed to help authoring tool developers create tools that are accessible to authors with disabilities, and that produce accessible web content.

BDF

Business Disability Forum

The Business Disability Forum (BDF) is a non-profit organization that aims to promote disability inclusion and accessibility in the workplace. The BDF provides guidance, support, and resources to businesses to help them create a more inclusive and accessible work environment for employees with disabilities.

EN 301549

European Accessibility Standard for ICT

EN 301 549 is a European standard for accessibility in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It provides a set of requirements for making ICT products and services accessible to people with disabilities. The standard is also known as the European Accessibility Standard for ICT or EN 301 549. The standard is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and the European Unio’s (EU) Accessibility Act.

EAA

European Accessibility Act

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), also known as European Union Directive 2019/882, aims to ensure that all people, regardless of their status, can access digital services and products effectively and without barriers. It establishes a common framework for ensuring the accessibility of websites, mobile applications, and other digital products and services across European Union (EU) member states.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) and EN 301 549 are closely interconnected, with the latter serving as a technical standard that supports compliance with the legal requirements of the EAA. While the EAA is a directive that establishes legal obligations for accessibility across the European Union, EN 301 549 provides the detailed technical specifications and guidelines necessary to meet those obligations.

ICT

Information and Communications Technology

Information and Communications Technology (ICT) refers to the comprehensive collection of technologies, systems, and components that enable modern computing, communication, and information processing. It includes all devices, networking components, and applications that facilitate interaction in the digital world, going beyond basic computing to include telecommunications and various forms of digital communication.

While ICT is often used interchangeably with Information Technology (IT), it is broader in scope. IT focuses primarily on the management of information systems, whereas ICT includes all communication technologies that enable the exchange of information.

Section 508

Section 508

Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology (EIT) accessible to people with disabilities. This applies to everything from websites and software to video players and multimedia presentations. The law mandates that EIT purchased, developed, maintained, or used by the Federal government must meet specific accessibility standards. These standards are outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and are based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA.

SC

Success Criteria

WCAG Success Criteria are specific requirements that web content must meet to ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities. These criteria are part of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which are developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The guidelines aim to make web content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities.

UD

Universal Design

Universal Design (UD) refers to the design and composition of environments, products, and services that are accessible, understandable, and usable by all people, regardless of their age, size, ability, or disability. The goal of universal design is to create spaces and items that can be used to the greatest extent possible without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Universal Design is based on seven principles, which include:

• The design is equitable, meaning it is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
• The design is flexible, meaning it can be used in different ways by different people.
• The design is simple and intuitive, meaning it is easy to understand and use.
• The design is perceptible, meaning it communicates necessary information to the user.
• The design has a tolerance for error, meaning it can accommodate mistakes and minimize their impact.
• The design is low in physical effort, meaning it can be used with minimal fatigue.
• The design is size and space accommodating, meaning it can be used by people of different sizes and abilities.

Universal Design is not just about accessibility, but also about creating designs that are aesthetically pleasing and functional for everyone. It is an approach that considers the needs of all users, regardless of their abilities, and aims to create designs that are inclusive and usable by everyone.

WAI

Web Accessibility Initiative

A part of the W3C, the WAI develops strategies, guidelines, and resources to help make the web accessible to individuals with disabilities.

WCAG

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines

Developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), WCAG provides a set of recommendations for making web content more accessible. The guidelines are organized under four principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR).

Certifications

ACR

Accessibility Conformance Report

An Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) is a document that provides a detailed evaluation of a product, service, or system’s accessibility features and conformance to specific accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act or EN 301 549.

CPACC

Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies

The Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) is a foundational certification offered by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). It is designed for individuals who want to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of accessibility principles, particularly in relation to disabilities and the standards that govern accessibility practices.

CPWA

Certified Professional in Web Accessibility

The Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) is a credential offered by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) that signifies a professional’s expertise in web accessibility. This certification is designed for individuals who want to demonstrate their ability to create and manage accessible digital content in compliance with established accessibility standards.

Assistive technologies

AI

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, decision-making, and perception. AI involves the use of algorithms, statistical models, and computer programs to enable machines to think and act like humans.

AT

Assistive Technology

Devices or software designed to assist individuals with disabilities in accessing information and performing tasks. Examples include screen readers, magnifiers, and alternative input devices.

CC

Closed Captions

Closed Captions (CC) are text representations of the spoken dialogue and other audio elements in a video. They are primarily designed to aid individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, but they also serve other purposes, such as aiding comprehension in noisy environments or for viewers who speak different languages. Closed Captions are technically a separate file (often an SRT file) that you upload with your video, allowing viewers to turn them on or off.

JAWS

Job Access With Speech

Popular screen reader software that helps individuals who are blind or have low vision to access and navigate digital information. JAWS is designed to read aloud the content on a computer screen, allowing users to interact with their computer using keyboard commands or Braille output to access the information they need.

NVDA

NonVisual Desktop Access

Free and open-source screen reader software that helps individuals who are blind or have low vision to access and navigate digital information. NVDA is designed to read aloud the content on a computer screen, allowing users to interact with their computer using keyboard commands.

OC

Open Captions

Open Captions (OC) are captions that are permanently displayed on the screen and cannot be turned off by the viewer. Unlike closed captions, which can be toggled on or off, open captions are embedded directly into the video content itself.

Digital tools and techniques

ARIA

Accessible Rich Internet Applications

Accessible Rich Internet Applications is a set of attributes that can be added to HTML to enhance accessibility for dynamic content and advanced user interface controls. ARIA helps assistive technologies interpret web content more effectively.

CSS

Cascading Style Sheets

Cascading Style Sheets is a styling language used to control the layout and appearance of web pages written in HTML or XML. CSS is used to separate the presentation of a document from its structure, making it easier to maintain and update the layout and design of a website.

FAT

Functional Accessibility Testing

Functional Accessibility Testing (FAT) is a type of testing that evaluates the accessibility of a product, system, or environment by verifying that it can be used by people with disabilities. The goal of FAT is to ensure that the product or system is functional and usable for everyone, regardless of their abilities.

FAT involves testing the product or system against a set of accessibility standards and guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, or the European Union’s Accessibility Act.

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language

The standard markup language used to create web pages. Proper use of HTML is fundamental to web accessibility, as it allows for the semantic structuring of content.

PDF/UA

Portable Document Format / Universal Accessibility

PDF/UA (PDF/Universal Accessibility) is a standard for making Portable Document Format (PDF) files accessible to people with disabilities. It provides a set of guidelines and requirements for creating PDF files that can be easily read and navigated by users with disabilities, including those who use assistive technologies such as screen readers.

VPAT®

Voluntary Product Accessibility Template®

Document that provides a standardized way for vendors to report the accessibility of their products, including software, hardware, and electronic documents. A VPAT is closely related to an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) in that they both provide information about the accessibility of a product or service.

In fact, a VPAT is often used as a template to generate an ACR. The VPAT provides a detailed evaluation of a product’s accessibility features and conformance to specific accessibility standards, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) or Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act or or EN 301 549.

The main difference between a VPAT and an ACR is that a VPAT is a more formal, standardized template that is typically used by vendors to report the accessibility of their products, whereas an ACR is a more general term that refers to any document that provides an evaluation of a product’s or service’s accessibility.

Importance of understanding abbreviations and acronyms

Familiarity with these abbreviations and acronyms is vital for several reasons:

• Clarity: understanding these terms facilitates clearer communication among professionals in the field of web accessibility.
• Compliance: knowledge of relevant guidelines and laws, such as WCAG and ADA, is essential for ensuring compliance and avoiding legal repercussions.
• Enhanced user experience: by implementing best practices associated with these terms, developers can create more inclusive and user-friendly web experiences.

Conclusion

These abbreviations and acronyms are used to describe various aspects of accessibility, including laws, guidelines, and technologies that help make products and services more accessible to people with disabilities.