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Accessibility language shouldn’t read like a government memo. If you’re building or testing websites, this Digital Accessibility Glossary is your quick reference to cut through the noise.
These terms aren’t just theory or just for developers. When your web agency drops “WCAG compliance” or a third-party app mentions “ARIA support,” you’ll actually know what they mean, and whether it matters for your store. Understanding this glossary helps you ask smarter questions, spot red flags, and make sure accessibility doesn’t get buried in tech talk.
Bookmark this Digital Accessibility Glossary as your go-to guide for creating inclusive, high-performing online experiences that work for everyone.
A11y
Short for “accessibility.” It’s written as a + 11 letters + y and pronounced “ally.” It’s not a buzzword—it’s shorthand for designing so everyone can interact with your website, regardless of ability.
Accessibility Conformance Testing (ACT)
Fancy term for accessibility audits. You test your site using automated tools, manual checks, and assistive tech. If you’re running an online store, this is how you find out whether your checkout form or product filters block users before they ever click “Buy.”
Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR)
This is your proof of work, the document that shows what’s accessible and what’s broken. It’s often paired with a VPAT, which clients or public organizations use to assess compliance.
ARIA
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is the language that helps assistive technologies understand custom UI components, like dropdown menus or modals, that HTML alone can’t describe. Used right, it improves usability. Used wrong, it creates chaos.
Want real examples? Check out my guide on ARIA Accessibility.
Assistive Technology (AT)
These are the tools people use to access the web screen readers, Braille displays, magnifiers, or voice input systems. If your website isn’t tested with AT, you’re not testing it for real users.
Digital Accessibility
It’s the practice of designing websites, apps, and digital tools that everyone can use. In e-commerce, that means ensuring people can browse, filter, and check out without friction. Accessibility isn’t charity, it’s usability for paying customers you’re currently excluding.
POUR
The four pillars of accessibility: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust.
They come straight from the WCAG Guidelines. If your site fails on any of these, users hit a wall.
Screen Reader
A screen reader reads digital content aloud or outputs it as Braille. It’s essential for blind users and many people with cognitive or literacy-related disabilities.
The most common ones include JAWS, NVDA, and VoiceOver.
Pro tip: test your product page flow with one. If you can’t complete a purchase using a keyboard and screen reader, it’s not accessible.
VPAT
A VPAT is your accessibility transparency report. It lists how your digital product meets accessibility standards, and where it doesn’t. For agencies or SaaS vendors, it’s the document that closes deals with enterprise clients who need to prove compliance.
WAI
Web Accessibility Initiative is part of the W3C, the group that defines global web standards. They publish accessibility specs, including WCAG, ARIA, and Authoring Practices. Think of them as the referees of the web.
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines is the global rulebook for accessibility. It defines how to make content usable for everyone and is the legal baseline in many countries.
If your online store doesn’t meet WCAG 2.1 AA, you’re one complaint away from a legal headache.
Final Thoughts
Accessibility jargon shouldn’t scare you. Once you understand what these terms mean, you can build cleaner, faster, more inclusive websites that serve everyone and convert better too.
Want to see how these concepts work in real audits?
Visit Accessibility Audit Services or my Accessibility Case Studies for e-commerce examples that show what inclusive design looks like in practice.
