Living Unlimited Glossary - Living Unlimited

A plain-language reference to the terms, programs, and standards that come up most often in adaptive lifestyle content. Definitions are written for people with disabilities, family members, and allies, not for specialists. Canadian context is included where it matters.

Index

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
ACA (Accessible Canada Act)
ADL (Activities of Daily Living)
ADP (Assistive Devices Program, Ontario)
AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act)
Assistive Technology
Built Environment Accessibility
CDB (Canada Disability Benefit)
CDB Top-Up (provincial top-ups to the Canada Disability Benefit)
CSA B651 (Canadian accessibility design standard)
DTC (Disability Tax Credit)
EAA (European Accessibility Act)
ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada)
ISP (Income Security Programs)
Mobility Aid
ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program)
Person-First and Identity-First Language
PSW (Personal Support Worker)
PWD Benefit (BC Persons with Disabilities Benefit)
Reasonable Accommodation
Service Dog vs. Therapy Dog vs. Emotional Support Animal
Social Model of Disability
Spoon Theory
Universal Design
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

AAC covers any method that supplements or replaces speech. It ranges from low-tech tools like picture boards, communication books, and letter charts to high-tech speech-generating devices and tablet apps. People who use AAC may have cerebral palsy, ALS, autism, aphasia after stroke, brain injury, or many other conditions. AAC is not a last resort or a sign of giving up on speech; for many people it is the primary, lifelong way they communicate. In Canada, some AAC devices are funded through provincial assistive technology programs, the Assistive Devices Program in Ontario, or workplace accommodations. Communication partners can support AAC users by allowing extra response time and addressing the person directly.

See also: Assistive Technology, Reasonable Accommodation, ADP.

ACA (Accessible Canada Act)

The Accessible Canada Act is federal legislation passed in 2019. Its stated goal is a barrier-free Canada by 2040 in areas under federal jurisdiction, including banking, broadcasting, federal employment, federal transportation, and federal government services. The Act requires regulated organizations to publish accessibility plans, set up feedback channels, and report on progress. It defines disability using the social model, recognizing barriers as the source of exclusion rather than impairment itself. The Act also created Accessibility Standards Canada, the body that develops national accessibility standards. People with disabilities can file complaints under the Act through the Accessibility Commissioner.

See also: AODA, Built Environment Accessibility, CSA B651.

ADL (Activities of Daily Living)

ADLs are the routine self-care tasks most people perform each day: bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring (for example, moving from bed to wheelchair), and personal grooming. Instrumental ADLs (IADLs) cover more complex tasks like cooking, managing money, taking medication, and using transportation. Occupational therapists, insurance assessors, and government benefit programs often use ADL and IADL scales to determine eligibility for support, funding, or services. Knowing the language matters: how an assessor scores ADL function can affect access to home care, long-term care placement, the Disability Tax Credit, and provincial disability benefits.

See also: PSW, Assistive Technology, Spoon Theory.

ADP (Assistive Devices Program, Ontario)

The Assistive Devices Program is Ontario’s provincial program that helps cover the cost of equipment and supplies for people with long-term physical disabilities. It is administered by the Ministry of Health and covers a defined list of categories: mobility devices, communication aids, visual aids, hearing devices, respiratory equipment, diabetic supplies, ostomy supplies, and more. ADP typically pays 75 percent of the approved cost for most devices, with the person or third-party coverage paying the remainder. An authorizer registered with ADP must complete the application. Wait times, authorizer availability, and product approval lists shape what is realistically accessible. Other provinces run comparable but distinct programs.

See also: Assistive Technology, Mobility Aid.

AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act)

The AODA is Ontario’s accessibility law, passed in 2005, which set the goal of an accessible Ontario by 1 January 2025. That date has passed and the goal was not met. The Fourth Independent Review of the AODA, conducted by Rich Donovan and delivered to the Ontario government, concluded the province would not meet the deadline. AODA obligations continue regardless: organizations remain subject to the standards and to compliance reporting on its own cycle. It applies to public, private, and non-profit organizations in Ontario and sets enforceable standards in customer service, employment, information and communications, transportation, and the design of public spaces. Organizations above certain size thresholds must file accessibility compliance reports. The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation sets out most specific requirements. Ontario is one of the more developed provincial accessibility regimes in Canada, alongside Manitoba, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, and Quebec. Each province has its own statute and timeline.

See also: ACA, Built Environment Accessibility.

Assistive Technology

Assistive technology is any device, software, or equipment that helps a person with a disability complete a task more independently or safely. The category is wide: wheelchairs, hearing aids, screen readers, voice control software, environmental control units, adapted kitchen tools, prosthetics, communication devices, smart-home systems, and AI-powered apps all qualify. Funding sources in Canada vary by device and province. Common pathways include provincial assistive devices programs, workplace accommodations under human rights law, private insurance, veterans benefits, and disability-specific charities. Choosing assistive technology is rarely a single decision; needs change as conditions, environments, and goals shift.

See also: AAC, Mobility Aid, ADP, Reasonable Accommodation.

Built Environment Accessibility

The built environment includes buildings, sidewalks, parks, transit stations, and any other constructed space people use. Accessibility in the built environment goes beyond ramps and accessible washrooms. It also covers door widths, threshold heights, signage with sufficient contrast and tactile elements, accessible parking, automatic doors, accessible counters and reception desks, wayfinding, lighting, and acoustics. In Canada, the National Building Code sets minimum requirements, and provincial building codes add to them. The CSA B651 standard goes further, providing the recognized technical benchmark for accessible design. Many existing buildings predate current standards and remain barriers.

See also: ACA, CSA B651, Universal Design.

CDB (Canada Disability Benefit)

The Canada Disability Benefit is a federal income supplement for working-age adults (18 to 64) with disabilities, launched in 2025 after the Canada Disability Benefit Act became law in 2023. It is administered by Service Canada and is intended to reduce poverty among people with disabilities, who experience poverty at much higher rates than other Canadians. Eligibility requires approval for the Disability Tax Credit. The benefit amount and income thresholds are set by regulation and have been a source of significant disability community advocacy, with many groups arguing the amounts fall well below what is needed to address disability poverty. Provincial benefits, tax treatment, and clawback rules vary.

See also: DTC, CDB Top-Up, ISP, ODSP, PWD Benefit.

CDB Top-Up (provincial top-ups to the Canada Disability Benefit)

Several provinces have announced or signalled top-ups intended to keep their existing provincial disability supports from being clawed back when a recipient also receives the federal Canada Disability Benefit. The details vary widely by province: some commit to full exemption of CDB income from provincial benefit calculations, some commit to partial offsets, and some have not yet committed at all. Provincial treatment of CDB as exempt or non-exempt income directly determines whether the federal payment adds to a recipient’s monthly income or simply replaces existing provincial support. Disability advocates across Canada have pressed for full exemption and a stated commitment in each provincial budget. Treatment is evolving; check current provincial guidance.

CSA B651 (Canadian accessibility design standard)

CSA B651, formally Accessible Design for the Built Environment, is the Canadian Standards Association’s technical standard for designing buildings and exterior spaces that people with a wide range of disabilities can use. It covers entrances, doors, corridors, ramps, stairs, washrooms, signage, controls, parking, and many other elements, with detailed dimensions and performance criteria. B651 is referenced by many municipal accessibility design guidelines and by some provincial building codes. It is generally more demanding than minimum National Building Code requirements. A companion standard, CSA B651.2, addresses accessible design for self-service interactive devices. Accessibility Standards Canada is developing federal accessibility standards that will interact with the B651 series.

See also: Built Environment Accessibility, ACA, Universal Design.

DTC (Disability Tax Credit)

The Disability Tax Credit is a non-refundable federal tax credit administered by the Canada Revenue Agency. It is intended to recognize the additional costs of living with a severe and prolonged impairment. To qualify, a medical practitioner must complete Form T2201 certifying that the person has a marked restriction in at least one basic activity of daily living, or significant restriction in two or more, or requires life-sustaining therapy. DTC eligibility also unlocks the Canada Disability Benefit, the Registered Disability Savings Plan, the Child Disability Benefit, and several other federal and provincial supports. Applications are sometimes denied or approved for limited periods; appeals are possible.

EAA (European Accessibility Act)

The European Accessibility Act is European Union legislation that sets common accessibility requirements for a defined set of products and services placed on the EU market, including computers, smartphones, e-readers, ATMs, ticketing machines, banking services, e-commerce, and audiovisual media services. Member states had to bring matching laws into force by mid-2025, with enforcement provisions phasing in. The EAA links closely to the EN 301 549 technical standard, which incorporates and extends WCAG. Canadian organizations selling into the EU may need to meet EAA conformance for products and digital services, even when Canadian rules are less specific. EAA expectations are increasingly shaping global accessibility procurement.

ISP (Income Security Programs)

Income Security Programs is the umbrella for the family of federal benefits delivered through Service Canada that provide income to seniors, survivors, and people who cannot work because of disability. It includes the Canada Pension Plan (retirement, disability, survivor, and children’s benefits), Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and the Allowance and Allowance for the Survivor. CPP Disability is the major federal disability income program for people who paid into CPP and cannot work because of a severe and prolonged disability. ISP is administered by ESDC. Eligibility rules, contribution requirements, and benefit calculations differ across each program; medical and contributory evidence is reviewed for CPP Disability claims.

Mobility Aid

Mobility aid is the umbrella term for any device that helps a person move around. Common examples include manual and power wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, rollators, canes, crutches, prosthetic limbs, and orthotics. The right mobility aid depends on the person, the environment, the activity, and how needs may change over time. Many people use more than one: a manual wheelchair indoors, a scooter for community distances, a power wheelchair for full-time use. Wheelchair use does not mean inability to walk. Roughly a third of wheelchair users are ambulatory and use the chair to manage fatigue, pain, or distance. Mobility aids are tools, not symbols of decline.

See also: Assistive Technology, ADP, Service Dog vs. Therapy Dog vs. Emotional Support Animal.

ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program)

The Ontario Disability Support Program provides income and employment supports to Ontarians with disabilities. The income support stream covers basic needs and shelter, with additional benefits for prescription drugs, dental and vision care, medical transportation, and certain mandatory and discretionary items. Eligibility requires meeting both financial criteria and a definition of disability assessed through the Disability Determination Package. Asset and income limits are strict, and earned income is partially exempted to encourage work. ODSP rates have long been criticized as well below the poverty line. The treatment of the Canada Disability Benefit as exempt or non-exempt for ODSP purposes has been a major advocacy issue.

See also: CDB, CDB Top-Up, PWD Benefit, ISP.

Person-First and Identity-First Language

Person-first language puts the person before the disability: “person with a disability,” “individual with autism.” Identity-first language puts the disability descriptor first: “person with a disability,” “autistic person.” Both are valid and both are used by people with disabilities themselves. Surveys show preferences vary by community. Autistic, Deaf, and blind communities often favour identity-first. People with intellectual disabilities often favour person-first. Many people switch depending on context. The safest practice is to ask an individual what they prefer and to follow community-led norms when writing about a group. Living Unlimited uses person-first language as the default for general writing, with respect for individual and community choice.

PSW (Personal Support Worker)

A Personal Support Worker provides hands-on help with daily living tasks: bathing, dressing, transfers, toileting, meals, medication reminders, and light housekeeping. PSWs work in long-term care homes, in hospitals, in retirement homes, and in private homes through home care agencies or self-directed funding arrangements. Training and titles vary across Canada. In Ontario the title is PSW; in other provinces similar roles are called Health Care Aides, Continuing Care Assistants, or Personal Care Workers. The PSW workforce is chronically understaffed and underpaid, and shortages affect access to care across the country. Some people with disabilities employ their own attendants directly through programs like Ontario’s Direct Funding.

PWD Benefit (BC Persons with Disabilities Benefit)

The Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation is British Columbia’s primary provincial disability income program, delivered through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. People who qualify receive monthly income assistance at a higher rate than general income assistance, along with supplements for transportation, medical equipment, dietary needs, and other items. Eligibility involves both a medical disability designation and financial criteria. Like Ontario’s ODSP, BC’s PWD rates have been the focus of sustained advocacy. The interaction between PWD payments and the federal Canada Disability Benefit (whether CDB is treated as exempt income) has been a central concern for the disability community in British Columbia.

Reasonable Accommodation

In Canadian human rights law, reasonable accommodation is the legal duty of employers, service providers, landlords, and unions to adjust rules, practices, or environments so that people with disabilities can participate equally. The duty is set out in the Canadian Human Rights Act and every provincial and territorial human rights code. It extends to the point of undue hardship, a legal threshold that is high and rarely reached. Most accommodation requests do not come close. Common examples include flexible scheduling, assistive technology, modified duties, accessible meeting formats, and built environment changes. Accommodation is a right, not a favour, and refusing to accommodate without meeting the undue hardship test is discrimination.

See also: ACA, AODA, Assistive Technology.

Service Dog vs. Therapy Dog vs. Emotional Support Animal

These three categories are often conflated and have different legal status in Canada. A service dog is individually trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a person’s disability (guiding a person who is blind, alerting to a seizure, retrieving items, interrupting dissociation, and many others). Service dogs accompany the handler in public places under human rights law, with provincial certification regimes varying. A therapy dog is a trained pet used in visiting programs (hospitals, long-term care, schools) and has no public-access rights with a single handler. An emotional support animal provides comfort by its presence, has no task training, and generally has no public-access rights in Canada, though housing accommodation may apply in some provinces.

See also: Reasonable Accommodation, Assistive Technology.

The social model of disability holds that disability is created by barriers in the environment, in attitudes, in systems, and in design choices, not by individual bodies or minds. A person may have an impairment; disability is what happens when the world fails to include that person. The social model contrasts with the medical model, which locates disability inside the individual and frames the solution as cure or correction. The Accessible Canada Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities both reflect the social model. It is the foundation of modern disability rights advocacy and the lens Living Unlimited uses throughout its content.

See also: Universal Design, Reasonable Accommodation.

Spoon Theory

Spoon theory is an energy-management framework developed by writer Christine Miserandino in 2003 in an essay describing her experience living with lupus. The idea uses spoons as a unit of finite daily energy: each task (showering, dressing, cooking, commuting, a phone call) costs spoons, and a person with chronic illness or a disability that affects energy starts the day with fewer spoons than someone without that condition. Running out of spoons forces rest. The framework has been widely adopted by communities including people with chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, ME/CFS, long COVID, and many disabilities. “Spoonie” is the in-community shorthand. The framework helps non-disabled partners, family, and employers understand pacing.

Universal Design

Universal design is an approach to designing products, environments, and services so they are usable by the widest possible range of people without the need for adaptation or specialized design. The seven principles, developed at North Carolina State University in the 1990s, include equitable use, flexibility, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort, and appropriate size and space. Universal design benefits everyone, not only people with disabilities: curb cuts help wheelchair users, parents with strollers, delivery workers, and travellers with luggage. It is a design philosophy, not a checklist, and it does not eliminate the need for individual accommodation.

See also: Built Environment Accessibility, CSA B651, WCAG.

WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines)

WCAG is the international technical standard for digital accessibility, maintained by the World Wide Web Consortium. The current version is WCAG 2.2, with WCAG 3 in development. The guidelines are organized under four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. Each guideline has success criteria at three conformance levels: A (minimum), AA (the common legal benchmark), and AAA (the highest). Canadian federal websites are required to meet WCAG 2.1 AA, and the AODA references WCAG. WCAG covers content readable by screen readers, keyboard navigation, sufficient colour contrast, captions, descriptive link text, and many other criteria. Compliance is the floor, not the ceiling.

See also: Assistive Technology, EAA, Universal Design.

Sources for the legislation and standards defined here. Accessible Canada Act and Canadian Human Rights Act, Justice Laws Website. Accessibility in Ontario and Assistive Devices Program, Government of Ontario. Canada Disability Benefit and Disability Tax Credit, Government of Canada. Accessibility Standards Canada. WCAG, W3C Web Accessibility Initiative. CBC News on the AODA 2025 deadline.

Definitions in this glossary are linked from across the site. Benefit amounts and thresholds are deliberately not stated here, because they change annually; follow the government links above for current figures.