Lexicon for digital accessibility

Our digital Accessibility Lexicon explains key terms related to digital and physical accessibility—from web accessibility and inclusion to assistive technologies. The entries are concise, easy to understand, and complemented with relevant cross-references and links. Our digital accessibility glossary is regularly expanded so you can find the most important information quickly and clearly.

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# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Alternative text (Alt-Text)

What is alt text? Definition, examples and best practices for accessible images.

Ableism

Discrimination against people on the basis of disability or perceived deviations from norms.

Audio description

Audio description is an additional audio track or narration on a video.

Accessibility

Digital accessibility of websites and apps according to the WCAG standard

A WCAG

The lowest level of compliance with the accessibility guidelines, comprising approximately 30 minimum criteria.

AA WCAG

Intermediate level of compliance and the legally required standard for BFSG and EAA compliance in Germany.

AAA WCAG

Highest (and voluntary) level of compliance, with approximately 28 additional criteria.

B

Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are a secondary navigation element on websites.

D

Dyslexia

A neurological reading disorder in which individuals have difficulty recognizing words and letters despite having normal intelligence.

Digital Accessibility

Digital accessibility ensures that websites, apps, and software are equally usable for everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive impairments.

DIN SPEC 33429

Comprehensive guidelines for translating, writing, and designing content in plain language.

E

Easy-to-Read Language

Highly simplified language based on fixed rules for people with learning disabilities.

G

General Accessibility

General accessibility encompasses the design of our entire environment—from buildings and transport to communication—so that all people can participate independently.

I

Inclusion

Inclusion means equal participation for all people.

P

Plain Language

Language that is easy to understand, with short sentences and few technical terms—flexible, without a strict set of rules.

R

Red-green color blindness

Red-green color blindness is the most common form of color vision deficiency.

Reading and spelling disorder

Persistent challenges in processing written language, affecting reading fluency and spelling accuracy.

S

Sign Language

Sign language is a visual language used by deaf people to communicate.

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