accessibility glossary

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology (AT) is any device, software, or equipment that helps a person with a disability perform tasks they otherwise could not, or could only do with difficulty, including screen readers, switch devices, and voice control software.

In a digital context, common assistive technologies include screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, TalkBack), screen magnifiers, switch access systems for people with limited mobility, voice control and dictation software, and alternative keyboards.

Websites don’t need to detect or specifically support any one AT product; instead, following standards like WCAG and using correct semantic HTML and ARIA ensures the browser exposes the right information to whatever assistive technology a visitor happens to be using, which is a more durable strategy than testing against individual products alone.

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