Digital Accessibility Glossary

Accessible Documents: Files (PDFs, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) formatted so they can be read and navigated by assistive technologies.

Alt Text: A textual description of images used to convey meaning to users who cannot see them. Screen readers rely on this to describe visual elements.

Assistive Technology: Devices or software used to improve functional capabilities for individuals with disabilities, such as screen readers.

Closed Captioning: Text displayed on screen to represent the audio content of a video, including spoken words and non-speech sounds.

Color Contrast: The difference in brightness and color between text and its background, used to ensure readability for users with visual impairments.

Color Contrast Analyzer: A tool that evaluates the contrast between text and background colors to ensure readability for users with visual impairments, aiding in compliance with accessibility standards.

Course Accessibility Plan (CAP): A CAP details how instructors or units will make course materials and learning environments accessible to students with disabilities. 

Course Content Accessibility: The process of ensuring course materials (e.g., syllabi, videos, slides) are usable by all students, including those with disabilities.

Deque University: An online platform offering comprehensive training on digital accessibility, including courses on creating accessible web content and understanding assistive technologies.

Digital Accessibility: The design and development of digital content so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with it. 

Digital Accessibility Plan (DAP): A DAP outlines how a unit will ensure its websites, digital content, and tools are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

Instructional Designers: Professionals who help faculty build accessible, inclusive, and effective online or hybrid learning experiences.

Screen Reader: A type of assistive technology that reads aloud text presented on a screen (or outputs it via Braille). It assists users with visual impairments in navigating websites or documents.

Tagged PDF: A PDF file that includes hidden labels or "tags" to define the structure and reading order of the content, making it accessible to screen readers and assistive technologies.

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act: A federal law that requires state and local governments, including public universities, to provide equal access to programs, services, and activities for individuals with disabilities.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): A framework for designing instruction that accommodates the needs of all learners by providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): A set of international standards for web accessibility developed by the W3C.