| Term | Definition |
| Allyship | Allyship is a relationship dynamic between allies and persons with disabilities where there is a shared commitment to dismantling systems of disability oppression. |
| Accommodation | Accommodation is the modification of a work environment and the creation of a welcoming workplace for employees so that they can perform job functions efficiently and safely. Accommodation should be a forethought and intentional. |
| Accessibility | Accessibility is the foundation that allows everyone to be included. Inclusion helps create meaningful experiences. When these experiences happen regularly, they lead to high-quality participation. |
| Best practice | A best practice is a strategy that has been tested and evaluated in practice. |
| Capacity building | Capacity building is the process by which individuals, groups, organizations, and communities increase their abilities to perform core functions, solve problems, define and achieve objectives and understand their development needs in a sustainable way and broader context. |
| Disability | Disability refers to any kind of impairment that affects how someone’s body or mind works. This can include physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication, or sensory challenges. It can be something that lasts forever, happens sometimes, or is temporary. Even if you can’t see it, a disability can make it harder for someone to fully participate in society because of barriers they might face. |
| How-to strategies | How-to strategies are specific instructions or actions |
| Inclusion | Inclusion means making sure everyone can take part in activities, programs, events, or roles to the best of their ability. |
| People/person with disabilities | People/person with disabilities refer to individuals who have some kind of impairment that affects how their body or mind works. This includes physical, mental, intellectual, learning, communication, or sensory challenges. These challenges can be permanent, temporary, or happen from time to time. Even if you can’t see it, a disability can make it harder for someone to fully participate in society because of barriers they face. It’s important to say “person with a disability” because the person is not defined by their disability; they are individuals who happen to have a disability. |
| Promising practice | A promising practice is a strategy that has the potential to make municipal recreation more inclusive. However, it has not been tested and evaluated in practice. |
| Quality participation | Quality participation is an individual’s perception that their participation in an activity, program, event, or role has been positive, satisfying, and enjoyable. |
| Universal design | Universal design is a way of creating products, buildings and outdoor spaces, and environments that are easy for everyone to use, no matter their age, size, or ability. It means designing things so that they are accessible and useful to as many people as possible without needing special changes. It’s not just about helping people with disabilities; it’s about creating good design that benefits everyone. For example, automatic doors are helpful not just for people in wheelchairs, but also for parents with strollers or people carrying heavy bags. |
| Visitability | Visitability is a way of designing homes and buildings so that they are easy for everyone to visit, especially people with mobility issues. This means including simple accessibility features that make it possible for visitors to enter and move around the main floor easily. |
Glossary of Terms
To help you understand the guide better, we have included a glossary of terms used throughout the document. The way we talk about disability is very personal and can change over time. The definitions we provide might not perfectly match everyone’s experiences, but they reflect the best practices and current understanding of disability.