This 🧵 is going to be a glossary to cover some terms that I am going to use this week. I'll add to it during the week if I forget any today and feel free to add your own below if I've missed any you think are important!
What is a screen reader?
It is assistive technology that can be used by the visually impaired, visually/hearing impaired (d/Deaf) or those with dyslexia & other cognitive disabilities. It converts text documents either from text to voice or from text to braille.
It is assistive technology that can be used by the visually impaired, visually/hearing impaired (d/Deaf) or those with dyslexia & other cognitive disabilities. It converts text documents either from text to voice or from text to braille.
What is alt text (alternative text)?
It is a text description of an image, graphic, gif or similar visual material that allows screen-readers to interpret & describe them. If you don't include alt text then a screen-reader can't interpret the image. It says 'image' & moves on.
It is a text description of an image, graphic, gif or similar visual material that allows screen-readers to interpret & describe them. If you don't include alt text then a screen-reader can't interpret the image. It says 'image' & moves on.
What is CamelCase?
CamelCase is where you capitalize the first letter of each word in a hashtag (e.g.) #ScienceCommunication
If you dont do this, the screen reader doesn't register that hashtags are words and reads them out letter by letter.
CamelCase is where you capitalize the first letter of each word in a hashtag (e.g.) #ScienceCommunication
If you dont do this, the screen reader doesn't register that hashtags are words and reads them out letter by letter.
What is neurodiverse?
Neurodiverse is an umbrella term that is used to describe people with ADHD, developmental speech disorders, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Tourettes and mental health conditions (e.g) bipolar, OCD as well as many other cognitive disabilities.
Neurodiverse is an umbrella term that is used to describe people with ADHD, developmental speech disorders, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Tourettes and mental health conditions (e.g) bipolar, OCD as well as many other cognitive disabilities.
What are captions?
Captions are a general terms that can either describe subtitles or closed captions (these are actually 2 different things will explain different in next tweet). Both these things are used to give a text version of audio/video content.
Captions are a general terms that can either describe subtitles or closed captions (these are actually 2 different things will explain different in next tweet). Both these things are used to give a text version of audio/video content.
What are subtitles?
Subtitles are a text version of audio/visual content. Subtitles only cover the words that are spoken and nothing else in the audio/video.
Subtitles are a text version of audio/visual content. Subtitles only cover the words that are spoken and nothing else in the audio/video.
What are close captions (cc)?
Cc give a more descriptive text version of an audio/video. They give some context (eg) hello [shouted] and a description of other auditory happenings (eg) [a phone rings]. Square brackets can be used to indicate what is spoken & what is context.
Cc give a more descriptive text version of an audio/video. They give some context (eg) hello [shouted] and a description of other auditory happenings (eg) [a phone rings]. Square brackets can be used to indicate what is spoken & what is context.
I'm also going to put accessible language here! There are many different terms (in English anyway) that people use to describe disabilities which are ableist or offensive. Here is a list compiled by Lydia Brown:
CW: offensive language, slurs [webpage]
autistichoya.com/p/ableist-word…
CW: offensive language, slurs [webpage]
autistichoya.com/p/ableist-word…
What is ableism?
Ableism is discrimination against anyone with a disability. Ableism and ableist terms tend to characterise the disabled as inferior.
Ableism is discrimination against anyone with a disability. Ableism and ableist terms tend to characterise the disabled as inferior.
What is a transcript?
An unsynchronised text description of video/audio/multimedia content. Key word is unsynchronised. It gives more context than CC as visual content is described with the spoken & audio description. Generally provided as text file or an uneditable google doc
An unsynchronised text description of video/audio/multimedia content. Key word is unsynchronised. It gives more context than CC as visual content is described with the spoken & audio description. Generally provided as text file or an uneditable google doc
Some people may have noticed that I use 'disabled' and 'with a disability' interchangeably. This difference between these is simple language. 'Disabled' is called identity-first language and 'with a disability' is called person-first language.
Different people describe their relationship with disabilities different. Both ways are valid and accept by different people and communities. Some people prefer one over the other and some people (like me) use them interchangeably. If you're unsure ask.
What is identity-first language?
It is putting the disability 'before' the person when talking about the disability (e.g.) autistic person, disabled person.
People who use identity-first language may want to show the impact disabilites on their identity/ lives.
It is putting the disability 'before' the person when talking about the disability (e.g.) autistic person, disabled person.
People who use identity-first language may want to show the impact disabilites on their identity/ lives.
What is person-first language?
When talking about a person with a disability, you put the person first (e.g.) person with a disability, person with X.
Some people use this to separate themselves from slurs that may have been used against them in the past.
When talking about a person with a disability, you put the person first (e.g.) person with a disability, person with X.
Some people use this to separate themselves from slurs that may have been used against them in the past.
