A
- a-
A prefix meaning not, without, lack of. Do not use a hyphen after attaching the prefix.
- a, an
The articles a and an are not interchangeable. A is used before words beginning with…
- abbreviations
Avoid abbreviated words, when possible, with a few rare exceptions such as months when in a complete date; states…
- able-bodied
Written either able-bodied or ablebodied. Avoid using. See nondisabled for preferred wording.
- ableism
Noun. Discrimination, both personal and structural, based on bias against disability. As an adjective…
- abnormal
Describes scientific, medical, statistical, environmental or situational anomalies. …
- abortion
Medically speaking, abortion is a broad term that means the termination of a pregnancy before fetal viability. It…
- absolutism
A political theory that absolute power or the means of government should be vested in one person…
- accessibility
Describes the broad concept of making environments, spaces, products, technologies, and services…
- accessible education, accessible learning
Broad terms that describe any adaptive or inclusive educational initiative or environment for inclusion…
- acronyms
A word formed from the first letter or letters of a series of words. Examples: • SCUBA stands…
- active voice
A sentence construction that in which the subject acts upon the object. As opposed to passive voice, in this sentence the subject directly performs the action.
- adage
An adage is any form of a short wise saying or proverb. It is often passed down through the…
- addict, addiction
Addiction is a recognized genetic chronic illness involving the brain, a person’s experiences and…
- affect
Both a verb and a noun, though it is best known in its verb form, where it can be thought of as meaning…
- afflicted with, suffers from, victim of
When discussing diseases or conditions, avoid using “afflicted with,” “stricken with,” “suffers from” or…
- age
Always use Arabic numerals for people and animals. Use standard number rules for inanimate…
- allege, alleged, allegedly
In reporting on a crime, rather than use terms like alleged murderer or alleged rapist, attribute the allegation. …
- alt text
Alt text is provides a text alternative to visual items. It is not only an important part of accessibility…
- American Indian
See Native American.
- American Sign Language (ASL)
American Sign Language (ASL) is a distinct language from English with distinct rules and distinct…
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the ADA) is a U.S. federal civil rights law that prohibits…
- amusia
Amusia, commonly called tone-deafness, is a congenital or acquired condition in which neural…
- anonymous sources
OAJ suggests avoiding using anonymous sources but understands that there are times…
- antisemitism
Prejudice in the form of beliefs, actions, words, policies, or systemic conditions against Jews…
- aphasia
A communication disorder which can affect how a person understands what is being…
- aphorisms
As a literary device, a short sayings that observe a truth or opinion. This is a type of adage. Aphorisms…
- apraxia
A movement disorder in which there is an inability to perform voluntary movements despite no…
- Asperger’s, Asperger’s syndrome
For general purposes, use autism and autistic instead of Asperger’s. The Autistic Self Advocacy…
- assure
A transitive verb that means to make sure or certain or convince; to inform positively; to make…
- asylum-seeker
See refugee.
- audio description
Also called visual description or descriptive video. This narrative audio track gives an essential…
- augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
The ways in which people communicate other than oral speech. Augmentative communication…
- authoritarianism
A form of rule in which power is centrally concentrated in one person, a small group of people, or…
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
A medical diagnostic term defined in the ICD-11 for a broad spectrum of neurological…
- autism, autistic
A disability that affects how people experience the world around them, which can be…