Glossary

Access aisle

Also: access aisles

An accessible pedestrian space between elements, such as parking spaces, seating, and desks that provides clearances appropriate for use of the elements.

Accessibility

Also: accessible

Refers to a site, facility, work environment, service, tools, technology, or program that is designed to be approached, entered, operated, and/or used safely and with dignity by a person with a disability without barriers; thereby enabling that individual to have as much access and effective use of such places and items as an individual without a disability.

Accessible parking signage

Also: accessible parking sign, accessible parking signs

Signage/image that is posted on an upright post with the international symbol of accessibility.

Accessible route

Also: accessible routes

A continuous unobstructed path connecting all accessible elements and spaces of a building or facility. Interior accessible routes may include corridors, floors, ramps, elevators, lifts, and clear floor space at fixtures. Exterior accessible routes may include parking access aisles, curb ramps, crosswalks at vehicular ways, walks, ramps and lifts.

Accessible transportation

Features on transportation vehicles such as wheelchair lift or ramp for transporting persons using mobility devices.

Accommodation

Also: accommodations

A modification to goods, services and structures that allows for inclusion and participation by persons with disabilities. Some common accommodation tools to modify goods and services include: auxiliary aids and services, assistive technology, and personal services.

Adaptability

Also: adaptable

Refers to the ability for features of items or locations to be altered for use by persons with disabilities. Unlike accessible features, adaptable features are not permanent fixtures and can be added or removed to accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities.

Adapted equipment

Devices that are used to assist with completing activities that are specially designed for use by persons with disabilities, such as wheelchairs, lifts, communication devices, as well as those more specific to exercise equipment, such as arm ergometers.

Adapted physical activity

Also: adapted physical activities

Activity/education has been adapted or modified, so that it is as appropriate for the person with a disability as it is for a person without a disability.

Adapted physical education

Also: adapted PE

Physical education program or services delivery that may be adapted or modified to address the individualized needs of children and youth who have gross motor developmental delays. It involves differentiating instruction, so the physical activity is as appropriate for the person with a disability as it is for a person without a disability.

Audible crossing signal

Also: auditory crossing signal, audible crossing signals, auditory crossing signals

Crossing signals that use sound, such as continuous chirps or buzzing, to indicate when it is time to cross for persons with visual impairments.

Auditory announcements

Spoken announcements that help passengers navigate on public transit systems (e.g. announcements of stops).

Automatic door

Also: automatic doors, power assist door, power-assist door

A door equipped with a power-operated mechanism and controls that open and close the door automatically upon receipt of a momentary actuating signal. The switch that begins the automatic cycle may be a movement sensor, floor mat, or manual switch.

Barrier

Also: barriers

Obstacles people with disabilities experience when in the community.

Built environment

The physical design and architecture of the building can make the building or the various rooms in it accessible or inaccessible. The physical design includes both the outside of the building (like parking lot and sidewalks) and the inside of the building (restrooms, weight rooms, locker rooms, etc.).

Curb cut

Also: curb cuts, curb ramp, curb ramps

A small ramp built into the curb of the sidewalk to make it easier to enter the street or cross a driveway.

Designated accessible

Also: designated accessible space, designated accessible spaces

A feature marked with the international sign of accessibility. May be seen on parking or for an accessible grocery aisle etc.

Detectable warning

Also: detectable warnings, tactile paving, truncated domes

A system of textured ground surface, also called tactile paving or truncated domes, found on many sidewalks to alert pedestrians who are blind or visually impaired that they are about to enter the roadway.

Disability awareness training

Training provided by employers to inform staff of how to work with and be sensitive to the special needs of persons with disabilities that will enable such persons to function and thrive in the given environment.

Inclusion

Also: inclusive

All community members: 1) are presumed competent, 2) are recruited and welcome as valued members of their community; 3) fully participate and learn with their peers; and 4) experience reciprocal social relationships.

Individualized Education Program

Also: IEP, IEPs, Individual Education Program

A plan used in public schools to guide the delivery of special education supports and services to individual students with disabilities. IEPs must include certain information about the student and the educational program designed to meet his or her unique needs.

International Symbol of Accessibility

Also: wheelchair symbol

Also known as the wheelchair symbol, is a blue square overlaid with an image of a person using a wheelchair in white. The symbol is seen in places where access has been improved for wheelchair users.

Marked crosswalk

Also: marked crosswalks, crosswalk

Any surface marking that designates a crossing, such as striping, painted lines, or brick paving.

Medical office

Also: medical offices, clinic, clinics, exam room, exam rooms, diagnostic room, diagnostic rooms

Setting where people can receive medical care. Each office/clinic may have a waiting room, hallways, restrooms and exam rooms.

Mobility device

Also: mobility devices, wheelchair, wheelchairs, walker, walkers

A mobility device is an aid for persons with limited mobility to assist with walking or rolling, such as a walker or wheelchair.

Multi-use trail

Also: multi-use trails

Multi-use trails include bicycle paths, rail-trails or other facilities built for bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

Obstacles that are difficult to traverse

Also: difficult to traverse, hard to traverse, difficult obstacles

Barriers seen on paths indoors and outdoors, including breaks in the surface, obstacles such as posts, newspaper stands, and promotional displays.

Paratransit

Also: para-transit, door-to-door transit, dial-a-ride

Paratransit, also known as door-to-door or dial-a-ride, is an alternative mode of transportation that does not follow a fixed route or schedule that provides rides for persons with disabilities in accessible vehicles.

Pictogram

Also: pictograms

A picture that represents a word or an idea, used to help communicate written information for persons with developmental disabilities.

Platform lift

Also: wheelchair lift, platform lifts

Also known as a wheelchair lift, is a powered device for raising a wheelchair and its occupant over a level change.

Play component

Also: play components

An element intended to generate specific opportunities for play, socialization, or learning. May be manufactured or natural, and may be stand alone or part of a composite play structure.

Policy

Also: policies

Policies include laws, bylaws, ordinances, guidelines, practices or stated strategies.

Program

Also: programs

Programs are organized activities that can be educational such as a nutrition class to instructional activities such as a group exercise class.

Public transportation

Also: public transit, transit

A system of buses, trains, subways or other vehicles that charge set fares, run on fixed routes, and are available to the public.

Ramp

Also: ramps

A walking or rolling surface to assist with gradually traversing a level change.

Recreation site

Also: recreation sites

Community facility that provides community members with an opportunity to be involved in recreational activities. Examples include park district, community center, sporting site (e.g. baseball field, basketball court, tennis court).

Sector

Also: sectors

The types of sites to be assessed in selected communities which represent areas important for community health. The four sectors are Education, Health, Public Spaces, and Community Institutions/Organizations.

Separate accessible entrance

Also: separate accessible entrances, alternate accessible entrance, alternate accessible entrances, alternative entrance

An entrance that differs from the main entrance and where persons with mobility limitations must enter from the side or rear of the building.

Signage

Displayed and posted verbal, symbolic, tactile and pictorial information.

Site

Also: sites, facility, facilities

The specific location of assessment.

Slope

The measure of the grade or incline parallel to the direction of travel.

Staff

Also: staff members, employees

The staff at a site can have an influence on the accessibility of that facility and its services. They can make individuals with disabilities feel included or excluded. Staff includes food store employees, teachers, personal trainers, health educators, doctors, nurses, etc.

Tactile paving

Also: tactile cues, tactile indicators, tactile warning, tactile warnings

A system of textured ground or floor surface used to assist visually impaired persons in navigating, identifying hazards, or finding direction.

Threshold

Also: thresholds, flush threshold

Floor surface in an entryway or door that, when accessible, is flush with the ground or only 1/4 inch high.

Traffic signal visual countdown

Also: visual countdown, pedestrian countdown, crossing timer

Feature that is part of a crossing signal that visually displays the amount of time left for pedestrians to safely cross the street before signal changes.

Transfer device

Also: transfer board, transfer devices

Equipment designed to facilitate the transfer of a person from a wheelchair or other mobility device to and from a seat or an exam table, for example a lift or transfer board.

Transit oriented development

Also: TOD

Transit oriented development, or TOD, encourages mixed-use residential and commercial development strategically located to maximize use of public transportation.

Travel training

An individualized training that teaches persons with disabilities and older adults how to use public transportation.

TTY

Also: Telecommunication Device for the Deaf, TDD

A telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD/TTY) is an electronic device that allows text communication to be transmitted over telephone lines, used by persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired.

Van accessible parking

Also: van accessible parking spaces

Van accessible parking spaces are suited to accommodate accessible vans with wheelchair lifts. They have a wider access aisle of 8 feet to allow for use of the wheelchair lift.

Venue

Also: venues

Distinct areas within a site to be assessed, for example gymnasiums, weight rooms, doctors' offices, cafeterias, and gardens.

Visual display of stops

In vehicle visual display of the next stop in trains/buses/light rail for persons with hearing impairments.

Volunteer transportation

A formal community program of volunteers who provide transportation to community members, particularly seniors or individuals with disabilities.

Wayfinding signage

Also: wayfinding, wayfinding signs

Indoor or outdoor system of signs that help people orient and navigate to desired locations in a community.

Wheelchair scale

Also: wheelchair-accessible scale

Patient scale with a weighing platform large enough and low enough to be used by a person using a wheelchair or other mobility device.

Zero-depth entrance

Also: zero depth entrance

A pool entrance where the water gradually goes from zero to deeper levels, allowing users who use mobility devices to enter the pool without steps or a lift.