Special Education Glossary

The following are explanations of commonly used words and phrases in the special education program.

ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act Civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination.

ADD/ADHD - Attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are medical conditions characterized by a child's inability to focus, while possessing impulsivity, fidgeting and inattention.

Adapted Physical Education (APE) - Specially designed physical education program, using accommodations designed to fit the needs of students who require developmental or corrective instruction in PE.

Assessment or Evaluation - Term used to describe all of the testing and diagnostic processes leading up to the development of an appropriate IEP for a student with special education needs.

Asperger's Syndrome - A type of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) that involved delays in the development of basic skills, including socializing, coordination and the ability to communicate

Autism - A brain development disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, communication and by restricted and repetitive behavior. Signs usually begin before a child is 3 years old.

Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) - Special education term used to describe the written plan used to address problem behavior that includes positive behavioral interventions, strategies and support. May include program modifications and supplementary aids and services

Child Study Team (CST) - A Child Study Team typically consists of a Case Manager, Specialists, Teachers and parents. The CST reviews academic/developmental, behavioral and social/emotional aspects of the child's performance in school. The CST monitors the child throughout the school year, and makes recommendations to meet the child's needs.

Deafness - Hearing impairment so severe that a child is impaired in possessing any linguistic information through hearing.

Disability - Physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

DDD - Division of Developmental Disabilities Public agency that offers various services to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Early Intervention - Programs for developmentally delayed infants and toddlers through 35 months of age; designed to help prevent problems as the child matures.

Extended School Year Services (ESY) - is the special education and related services provided to students beyond the regular 180 day school year to maintain a student's learned skills/behavior, not the teaching of new skills/behaviors. The IEP team decides whether or not the student requires ESY services and the location of these services.

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) - Legal requirement for school districts to provide free appropriate public education to qualified students with disabilities, regardless of disability.

Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) - A problem solving process for addressing inappropriate behavior.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) - The original legislation was written in 1975 guaranteeing students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education and the right to be educated with their non-disabled peers. Congress reauthorizes this federal law. The most recent revision occurred in 2004.

Individualized Education Plan (IEP) - Special education term used by IDEA to define the written document that states goals, objectives and services for students receiving special education. Inclusion - Term used to describe service that places students with disabilities in general education classrooms with appropriate support services.

Individualized Education Program Team - Term used to describe the committee of parents, teachers, administrators and school personnel that provides services to the student. The committee may also include medical professional and other relevant parties. The team reviews assessment results, determines goals and objectives and program placement for the child needing services.

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) - A process of providing early intervention services for children ages 0-3 with special needs. Family based needs are identified and a written plan is developed and reviewed periodically.

Individualized Transition Plan (ITP) - This plan starts at age 14 and addresses areas of post-school activities, post secondary education, employment, community experiences and daily living skills.

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) - The placement of a special needs student in a manner promoting the maximum possible interaction with the general school population. Placement options are offered on a continuum including regular classroom with no support services, regular classroom with support services, designated instruction services, special day classes and private special education programs.

Mainstreaming - Term used to describe the integration of children with special needs into regular classrooms for part of the school day. The remainder of the day is in a special education classroom.

Manifestation Determination - Within 10 school days of any decision to change the placement of a child with a disability because of violation of school code, the IEP team must review all relevant information in the student's file to determine if the conduct in question was caused by the child's disability or if the conduct was a direct result of the school district's failure to implement the child's IEP.

Mental Retardation (now referred to as Intellectually Disabled) - This term has recently been changed. This disorder is characterized by below average cognitive functioning in two or more adaptive behaviors with onset before age 18.

Multiple Disabilities - An IEP term used to define a combination of disabilities that causes severe educational needs that require multiple special education programs such as mental retardation with blindness.

Non-public School (NPS) - Districts contract with non-public schools when an appropriate placement cannot be found within the scope of the public education setting. Non-public school placement is sought only after efforts to find appropriate placement in public schools have been exhausted.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - OCD is an anxiety disorder that presents itself as recurrent, persistent obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive ideas, thoughts or images while compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the child feels they must perform.

Occupational Therapists - Provide consultation and support to staff to improve a student’s educational performance related to fine motor, gross motor and sensory integration development.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) - A child who defies authority by disobeying, talking back, arguing or being hostile in a way that is excessive compared to other children and this pattern continues for more than six months may be determined to have ODD. ODD often occurs with other behavioral problems such as ADHD, learning disabilities and anxiety disorders.

Orthopedic Impairment - Term used to define impairments caused by congenital anomaly, impairments by diseases and impairments by other causes.

Other Health Impaired - Term used to describe limited strength, vitality and alertness that results in limited ability in the educational environment. Impairment could be a result of chronic health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder, epilepsy, heart condition, hemophilia, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever and sickle cell anemia.

Occupational Therapy (OT) - Focuses on daily living, fine motor skills and sensory integration.

Physical Therapy (PT) - Evaluation and treatment of physical disabilities to improve the use of bones, muscles, joints and nerves through exercise

Preschool Disabled - Means an identifiable disability and/or a measurable developmental impairment occurring between the ages of 3-5 and requiring special education and related services

PTO/PTA - Parent Teacher Organization/Parent Teacher Association Advocacy organization that promotes the improvement of health, welfare and education of children

Resource Specialists - Provide instructional planning and support and direct services to students who needs have been identified in and IEP and are assigned to general education classrooms for the majority of their school day.

Resource Specialist Program (RSP) - Term used to describe a program that provides instruction, materials and support services to students with identified disabilities who are assigned to general classroom for more than 50% of their school day.

SED (Emotional Disturbance) - Term used to describe a diagnosable mental, behavioral or emotional disorder that lasts for a significant duration that meets the criteria within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Sensory Processing Disorder - A complex brain disorder that causes a child to misinterpret everyday sensory information like movement, sound and touch. Children with SPD may seek out intense sensory experiences or feel overwhelmed with information.

Special Services - Specialized services provided by the district for qualified students, such as physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT).

Specific Learning Disability - Special education term used to define a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language spoken or written that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or do mathematical equations.

Speech and Language Impairments - Communication disorders such as stuttering, impaired articulation, language impairment or voice impairment.

Speech and Language Specialist - Assesses students for possible delayed speech and language skills and provides direct services in the area of phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics. They are also available regarding hearing impairments and amplification.

SLP - Speech Language Pathology Therapy that focuses on improvement of communication problems.

Tourette's Syndrome - Disorder that includes multiple motor and one or more vocal tics, which occur many times per day, nearly daily. If a child has Tourette's syndrome, symptoms tend to appear between the ages of 3-10 years old.

Traumatic Brain Injury - An acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment. Applies to open or closed head injuries.

Transition IEP - IDEA mandates that at age 16, the IEP must include a statement about transition including goals for post-secondary activities and the services needed to achieve these goals. This is referred to an Individual Transition Plan or (ITP).

Turner's Syndrome - This rare genetic disorder affects females and is characterized by the absence of an X chromosome. Characteristics include small stature, limited development of sexual characteristics, low hairline and abnormal eye and bone development.

Visual Impairment - Impairment in vision that even with correction adversely affects a child’s educational performance.