A glossary of terms relevant to disability, accessibility and technology

Transcription of the verbal portion of films or videos displayed to make them accessible to people who are deaf.

The process of narrating all significant audio content in presentations, video, and other visual formats by using words or symbols to transcribe spoken dialogue, identify speakers, and describe music and sound effects.

A functional disorder caused by damage to a child’s brain during pregnancy, delivery, or shortly after birth. Cerebral palsy is characterized by one or more movement disorders, such as spasticity (tight limb muscles), purposeless movements, rigidity (severe form of spasticity), or a lack of balance. People with cerebral palsy may also experience seizures, speech, hearing and/or visual impairments, and/or mental retardation.

An on-screen system that allows people with a hearing disability to view television with spoken words written across the bottom of the screen.

A  camera used to magnify books or other materials to a monitor or television.

Assistive computing systems that allow people with disabilities to use computers to complete tasks that they would have difficulty doing without a computer, e.g., reading, writing, communicating, accessing information.