Abbreviations and Acronyms, Glossary, and Terms

Email (email) is a shortening of electronic mail. Email is now the accepted usage and spelling and should be used instead of deprecated terms (e-mail, e mail, etc.)

email is the correct way to shorten electronic mail

• lowercase (unless at the beginning of a sentence)
  
• no hyphens or dashes

Incorrect

• e-mail
• Email

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - (singular) A list of the most commonly asked questions on a specific topic.

Usage

• FAQ - is a list of frequent questions
• FAQs - is a list of multiple FAQ lists
• FAQ's - is possessive and would rarely be used, for example, "I was looking at the FAQ's formatting) This should never be a header for a FAQ
  

Screen readers are programs for electronic devices (desktops, laptops, mobile devices) that can use the device's speakers to read the text out loud to the user.  They use text-to-speech programming to speak the text so that the words sound like words.  Screen readers can be customized to speak faster or slower, change voices, and even speak in multiple languages.  Typically used by users that are blind or have low vision, there are benefits for all users, for example new language translation programs that can allow two people who speak different languages to communicate in real time.

Usage

Correct: screen reader

• lowercase (unless at the beginning of a sentence)
  
• no hyphens or dashes

Incorrect:  screenreader or screen-reader

Website is now the accepted usage and spelling and should be used instead of deprecated terms (WebSite, Web-Site, etc.)

website is correct

• lowercase (unless at the beginning of a sentence)
  
• no hyphens or dashes

Incorrect

• WebSite
• Web-Site
• web site
• web-site

A link pointing to a page on the same domain.  For example https://www.utmb.edu  linking to https://www.utmb.edu/web.

Paratransit - direct pick up and drop-off as alternative to scheduled public transportation

Screen readers are programs for electronic devices (desktops, laptops, mobile devices) that can use the device's speakers to read the text out loud to the user.  They use text-to-speech programming to speak the text so that the words sound like words.  Screen readers can be customized to speak faster or slower, change voices, and even speak in multiple languages.  Typically used by users that are blind or have low vision, there are benefits for all users, for example new language translation programs that can allow two people who speak different languages to communicate in real time.

Usage

Correct: screen reader

• lowercase (unless at the beginning of a sentence)
  
• no hyphens or dashes

Incorrect:  screenreader or screen-reader

Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) - A completed version of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) - which details the accessibility of Information and Communication software and services and their conformance to the Revised 508 Standards.

Best practices

• Know that ACR and VPAT are often used interchangeably
• Request an ACR or VPAT® when evaluating, renewing, or purchasing Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This will enable the accessibility features and compliance to be evaluated along with the product's other offerings.
• Review the document. Having a document doesn't mean that the product is accessible.  How accessible the product is, or isn't will be detailed in the document.
• Ask for the methods used to certify the application and to see the accessibility reports

Assistive Technology (AT) - Physical devices or software that allows users with disabilities access to technologies they wouldn't be able to operate otherwise.  Some examples include screen readers or physical switches.

Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) - devices, analog or electronic to supply natural speech

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) - Guidelines covering accessibility of authoring tools, so applications are operable for all users.

Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) - Computer-generated live captioning of speech to text, such as Apple's Live Captions or Google's Live Caption.

Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) - A realtime, word-for-word translation by an individual for others, that is displayed on a monitor or device for reading during classes, appointments, and other live conversations

CAPTCHA - Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart

Department of Justice (DOJ) -- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) establishes accessibility rights as civil rights.  The DOJ is the government entity that regulates this area, though there aren't currently any specific requirements or standards provided.

 Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) - celebrated by the State of Texas every October.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - (singular) A list of the most commonly asked questions on a specific topic.

Usage

• FAQ - is a list of frequent questions
• FAQs - is a list of multiple FAQ lists
• FAQ's - is possessive and would rarely be used, for example, "I was looking at the FAQ's formatting) This should never be a header for a FAQ
  

International Day of Persons with Disabilities - The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is December 3rd.

Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) - Guidelines covering accessibility of authoring tools, so applications are operable for all users.

Success Criterion -  The SC indicates how to verify conformance with each Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standard.

U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) - the U.S. Web Design System is a framework from the federal government to assist developers in creating accessible websites via accessible components, templates, utilities, etc.

Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®) - which details the accessibility of Information and Communication software and services and their conformance to the Revised 508 Standards. When the VPAT is complete it creates an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR).

Best practices

• Know that ACR and VPAT are often used interchangeably
• Request an ACR or VPAT® when evaluating, renewing, or purchasing Information and Communication Technology (ICT). This will enable the accessibility features and compliance to be evaluated along with the product's other offerings.
• Review the document. Having a document doesn't mean that the product is accessible.  How accessible the product is, or isn't will be detailed in the document.
• Ask for the methods used to certify the application and to see the accessibility reports