Accessibility Abbreviations

September 7, 2015Technical, World of Accessibility

Updated: May 28, 2024

Abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms

All relate to USA unless specified.

All are pronounced as letters unless specified.

Related to accessibility and disability

A11Y
Accessibility (written abbreviation only, pronounced “accessibility”)
ABI
Acquired Brain Injury
ACR
Accessibility Conformance Report (VPATs are part of ACRs)
AD
Audio Description
ADD
Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADS
Accessible Document Specialist (IAAP certification)
ARC
Accessibility Resource Center (TPGi)
ARIA
Accessible Rich Internet Applications (pronounced “ah-ria”)
AS
Asperger’s Syndrome
ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorders
ASL
American Sign Language
AT
Assistive Technology
Auslan
Australian Sign Language (pronounced “oss-lan”)
BSL
British Sign Language
CALD
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
CAO
Chief Accessibility Officer
CAPTCHA
Completely Automated Public Turing Test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (pronounced “cap-cha”)
CART
Computer-Aided Real-time Transcription (pronounced “cart”)
CC
Closed Captions
CD
Communication Disorder
CP
Cerebral Palsy
CPABE
Certified Professional in Accessible Built Environments (IAAP certification)
CPACC
Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (IAAP certification)
CPWA
Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (IAAP certification)
DD
Developmental Disability/Developmentally Delayed
DS
Down Syndrome
EC
Early Childhood
HASCI
Head and Spinal Cord Injury (pronounced “hass-key”)
HCI
Human-Computer Interface
HFA
High Functioning Autism
HI
Hearing Impaired
HL
Hearing Loss
HoH
Hard of Hearing
ID
Intellectual Disability (formerly MR Mental Retardation)
IDP
Inclusive Design Principles
JAWS
Job Access With Speech (screen reader) (pronounced “jaws”)
MBD
Minimal Brain Dysfunction
MD
Muscular Dystrophy
MH
Mental Health
MS
Multiple Sclerosis
NGO
Non-Government Agency
ND
Neuro Diverse
NLD
Nonverbal Learning Disability
NT
Neuro Typical
NVDA
NonVisual Desktop Access (screen reader)
OC
Open Captions
OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OT
Occupational Therapy/Therapist
PT
Physical Therapy/Therapist
PTSD
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PWD
Person/People With Disabilities
QA
Quality Assurance
RP
Retinitis Pigmentosa
RTT
Real Time Text
RWD
Responsive Web Design
SCI
Spinal Cord Injury
SE
Supported Employment
SD
Solutions Delivery
SR
Screen Reader
ST
Speech Therapy
STT
Speech to Text
TB
TalkBack (Android screen reader)
TBI
Traumatic Brain Injury
TDD
Telecommunication Device for the Deaf
TT
Text Telephone
TTS
Text to Speech
TTY
Teletypewriter
UDL
Universal Design for Learning
UI
User Interface
UX
User Experience
VI
Visually Impaired
VO
VoiceOver (iOS screen reader)
VPAT
Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (pronounced “vee-pat”)
WAS
Web Accessibility Specialist (IAAP certification)

Related to accessibility and disability organizations, departments and agencies

ACB
American Council of the Blind
ACLD
Association for Children with Learning Disabilities
AFB
American Foundation for the Blind
ASA
Autism Society of America
ATA
Alliance for Technology Access
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CIL
Center for Independent Living
DDC
Developmental Disabilities Council
DDD
Division of Developmental Disabilities (DHHR)
DoJ
Department of Justice (enforces ADA)
EEOC
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
FDA
Food and Drug Administration
FRN
Family Resource Network
G3ICT
Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs
HHS
Health and Human Services
IAAP
International Association of Accessibility Professionals
IDDRC
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center
LDA
Learning Disabilities Association
MHCA
Mental Health Consumer’s Association
NACDD
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
NAMI
National Alliance on Mental Illnesses
NCIL
National Council on Independent Living
NDRN
National Disability Rights Network
NIH
National Institutes for Health
NIMH
National Institute of Mental Health
OSE
Office of Special Education (Department of Education)

Related to accessibility and disability legislation, regulations, and standards

ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act

Title I
covers employment
Title II
covers public entities and public transportation
Title III
covers public accommodations and commercial facilities
Title IV
covers telecommunications
ATAG
Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (pronounced “ay-tag”)
CRPD
UN
Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
CVAA
21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act
DD Act
The Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act
DDA
Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Australia)
DDA
Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Northern Ireland)
EAA
European Accessibility Act
EN 301 549
Harmonised [sic] European Standard on accessibility requirements for ICT products and services
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
POUR
Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust (the four principles of WCAG) (pronounced “pour”)
RHA
Rehabilitation Act

Section 501
affirmative action and nondiscrimination in employment by Federal agencies of the executive branch
Section 503
affirmative action and prohibits employment discrimination by Federal government contractors and subcontractors
Section 504
civil rights to people with disabilities, opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in education, employment
Section 508
requirements for electronic and information technology developed, maintained, procured, or used by the Federal government
SSA
Social Security Act

Title I
Grants to States for Old-Age Assistance for the Aged
Title II
Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Benefits
Title VIII
Special Benefits for Certain World War II Veterans
Title X
Grants to States for Aid to the Blind
Title XIV
Grants to States for Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled
Title XVI
Grants to States for Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled
Title XVI
Supplemental Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled
Title XVII
Grants for Planning Comprehensive Action to Combat Mental Retardation
Title XVIII
Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled
Title XIX
Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs
W3C
World Wide Web Consortium
WAI
Web Accessibility Initiative
WAI-ARIA
Web Accessibility Initiative – Accessible Rich Internet Applications
WCAG
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (pronounced “wick-ag”, or “wuh-cag”, or “way-cag”)

See also list of abbreviations, initialisms, and acronyms related to general technology

Categories: Technical, World of Accessibility