# Harvard Accessibility Glossary ## expand\_more As accessibility standards and best practices evolve, so does the language used to describe them. This glossary provides clear, concise definitions of common accessibility terms, guidelines, and concepts. ## General Accessibility Terms ![A woman using hand gestures](/sites/g/files/omnuum426/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-07/SAElfNVA_1.jpeg?itok=LCBqkjS_) ### Accessibility Able to be used by everyone, including people with disabilities. ### Ableism A type of discrimination in which non-disabled individuals are viewed as superior to those with a disability, resulting in prejudice toward the latter (Source: Disability Language Style Guide) ### Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) [Federal civil rights law](https://www.ada.gov/) that protects individuals with disabilities and aims to prevent discrimination ### Assistive Technology Any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Examples include message boards, screen readers, refreshable Braille displays, keyboard and mouse modifications, and head pointers. [ADA National Network](https://adata.org/) ### Disability Per the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), a person is protected from discrimination based on disability if they fit any of the following criteria: - have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; - have a record of such an impairment; or - are regarded as having such an impairment. ### \[Disability\] Barrier Obstacles that prevent individuals with disabilities from fully participating in society, affecting their access to various aspects of life. This can include any environmental barrier in society, including but not limited to physical, attitudinal, and policy barriers. Source: ([Center for Disease Control (CDC))](https://www.cdc.gov/disability-inclusion/barriers/index.html) ### Digital Accessibility Inclusive practice of removing barriers that prevent interaction with or access to, web content, digital tools, and technologies by people with disabilities. ### Effective Communication Communication with people with disabilities must be as effective as communication with others. Individuals who are Deaf/hard of hearing may use sign language or captioning. ![Two women sitting on a bench seat ](/sites/g/files/omnuum426/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-07/d_w7Yrjw.jpeg?itok=ZKZip_J6) ### Equal Opportunity An opportunity for people with disabilities to participate in and benefit from programs and services that is equal to and as effective as the opportunity provided to others. ### Fundamental Alteration A fundamental alteration is a change to a class or program that is so significant that it alters the essential requirements of a course, program, or activity. Essential requirements are the core skills, knowledge, principles, experiences, and concepts related to a course, program, or activity. (Source:[ ADA National Network](https://adata.org/glossary-terms)) ### [Local Disability Coordinator](https://accessibility.harvard.edu/student-coordinators) A Harvard-specific term that indicates the person(s) in local Schools who facilitates the interactive reasonable accommodation exploration process for students at Harvard. ### Neurodiversity The idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits. ### Neurodivergence The experience of being atypical in brain functioning. Often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as other neurological or developmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities. (Source:[ Harvard Health Publishing](https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-neurodiversity-202111232645)) ### Non-Apparent Disability Refers to conditions that are not immediately observable by others but can substantially limit one or more major life activities, as defined by the ADA. Unlike apparent disabilities, which are easily perceived (i.e., person using a wheelchair, cochlear implant, etc.), non-apparent disabilities may include chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, neurodivergent traits, or internal systemic disorders. ### Reasonable Accommodation An alteration, change, modification, or exception to any Harvard policy, practice or procedure that is necessary for an individual with a disability to receive an equal opportunity to participate. ![Someone wearing a black hat and sunglasses looking into the distance](/sites/g/files/omnuum426/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-07/G8HQKt2Q.jpeg?itok=qR1sIeqB) ### Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in any federally funded programs or activities and requires such programs to be accessible to people with disabilities. ### Service Animal Defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, or performing other duties. ### Universal Design The design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. (Source:[ University of Washington DO-IT Center](https://doit.uw.edu/universal-design/)) ### Universal Design for Learning (UDL) An educational framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning to ensure that all learners are able to access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities. (Source:[ Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST](https://www.cast.org/))) ## Digital Accessibility Terms The following terms related to digital accessibility are defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ### Alternate Text A hidden textual description on a meaningful image that provides an interpretation of the visual content. ### Audio Description 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](https://www.section508.gov/tools/glossary/)) ### Closed Captions 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. ### Heading Phrases that communicate the organization of the content. (Ref. [W3C](https://www.w3.org/WAI/tutorials/page-structure/headings/)) Headings are often styled using formatting characteristics (e.g., bold, large font, color). ### Header The top row of a table that acts as a title for the type of information found in each column. 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. ### Magnification Enlarges text and graphics on a computer screen. ### 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](https://www.section508.gov/tools/glossary/)) ### 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](https://www.afb.org/blindness-and-low-vision/using-technology/assistive-technology-products/screen-readers)) ### Speech-to-Text Technology that enables human speech to be converted automatically into text. Also known as dictation. (See [Dictionary.com](https://dictionary.com)) ### User Experience Encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with a company, services, and products. See also usable. (See [Usability.gov User Experience Basics](https://digital.gov/topics/usability/)) ### Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 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.