Glossary
Readers,
Please know that I place this Glossary of Terms here NOT to insult your intelligence. In the excitement of the writing process, my husband has gently pointed out to me that I have a tendency to slip into “shop talk” by casually throwing around terms that quite frankly leave him looking like this.
Thus, I have included links throughout my pages and posts directing you back here to a glossary of the commonly used educational terms and phrases.
Blessings,
Kimberly
IOH Mom
504 Plans – plans written by educators to give support to children with disabilities that may hamper the child’s daily functioning. These plans fall under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and help prevent discrimination as part of civil rights law.
Accommodations – “Changes in curriculum or instruction that do not substantially modify the requirements of the class or alter the content standards or benchmarks. Accommodations are determined by the IEP team and are documented in the student IEP.” Glossary of Special Education Terms – Utah Parent Center
Achievement Tests – “Test that measures competency in a particular area of knowledge or skill; measures mastery or acquisition of skills.” Glossary of Special Education Terms – Utah Parent Center
American Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) – Legislation enacted on July 26, 1990, that “prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life — to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and services. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin – and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 — the ADA is an “equal opportunity” law for people with disabilities.” Introduction to the ADA
Aptitude Test – “A test predicting a student’s future performance in a particular domain. One such test is the SAT Test.” Glossary of Terms | National Association for Gifted Children (nagc.org)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – a disorder marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. NIMH » Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (nih.gov)
Autism – “a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. People with ASD have difficulty with social communication and interaction and have
restricted interests and repetitive behaviors.” Autism Spectrum Disorder (nih.gov)
Auditory Processing – what happens when your brain recognizes and interprets the sounds around you. Auditory Processing Disorder in Children | LD Topics | LD OnLine
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) -“Apraxia is a motor speech disorder that makes it hard to speak. A child with CAS knows what they want to say. The problem is not how the child thinks but how the brain tells the mouth muscles to move. CAS is sometimes called verbal dyspraxia or developmental apraxia.” Childhood Apraxia of Speech (asha.org)
Cognition – the mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) – “a multiple-choice K-12 assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal questions.” CogAT Test (Cognitive Abilities Test) – TestingMom.com
Comorbidity – The co-existence of more than one medical condition, physical ailment, mental disorder, or disease in the same person.
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) – “a motor skills disorder that affects five to six percent of all school-aged children. The ratio of boys to girls varies from 2:1 to 5:1, depending on the group studied. DCD occurs when a delay in the development of motor skills, or difficulty coordinating movements, results in a child being unable to perform common, everyday tasks. By definition, children with DCD do not have an identifiable medical or neurological condition that explains their coordination problems.” Developmental Coordination Disorder | CanChild
Diagnostical and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM 5) – resource guide used by clinicians (Occupational, Physical Therapists, and Speech Therapists, Psychologists, and Physicians) and researchers to diagnose and classify mental disorders.
Differentiated Instruction – “a teaching approach that tailors instruction to students’ different learning needs.” What Is Differentiated Instruction? | Understood – For learning and thinking differences
Dyscalculia – “a specific learning disability in math. Dyscalculia is understood as “math dyslexia,” but is actually a syndrome or collection of characteristics that are marked by underachievement in math in spite of good ability in speaking, reading, and writing. Sometimes dyscalculia occurs with other learning difficulties.” What’s Dyscalculia?
Dysgraphia -“a specific learning disability in which the ability to express oneself through written language is impaired. Simply put, dysgraphia describes difficulty with writing. Dysgraphia is not the result of intellectual impairment, nor is it dependent upon your ability to read. Dysgraphia has the potential to cause problems with spelling, organizing words on a page, and putting your thoughts on paper.” What Is Dysgraphia? – Symptoms, Treatment & Definition – Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com
Dyslexia (Reading Disorder)– A specific learning disability “that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called reading disability, dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language.” Dyslexia – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
Executive Dysfunction – “the range of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional difficulties which often occur as a result of another disorder or a traumatic brain injury. Individuals with executive dysfunction struggle with planning, problem-solving, organization, and time management.”What Is Executive Dysfunction? Sign and Symptoms of EFD (additudemag.com)
Exceptional Learners – “refers to students who learn and develop differently from most others or students who have exceptional learning styles, exceptional talents, or exceptional behaviors. Exceptional students are those who fall outside of the normal range of development.” Examples include but are not limited to the following:
- Autism
- Deaf-blindness
- Deafness
- Emotional Disturbance
- Intellectual Disability
- Hearing Impairment
- Multiple Disabilities
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Other Health Impairment
- Specific Learning Disability
- Speech or Language Impairment
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Visual Impairments including blindness
- Development Delay
- At-risk
- Gifted and Talented
Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – “The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children.” About IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Individualized Education Program (IEP) – “The annually written record of an eligible individual’s special education and related services. The IEP describes the unique educational needs of the student and the manner in which those educational needs will be met.” Glossary of Special Education Terms – Utah Parent Center
Individualized Instruction – “Individualized instruction focuses on the needs of the individual student. Teaching is specific and targets one need at a time. This teaching method can be used on its own, or it can be part of differentiated teaching. Some students who receive individualized instruction need teachers to help them understand and learn. Other students using the same teaching method can skip topics they already know and go on to advanced information.” Individualized vs. Differentiated Instruction | Teaching Techniques | Understood – For learning and thinking differences
Intelligence Quotient (IQ) – “A numerical representation of intelligence. IQ is derived from dividing mental age (result from an intelligence test) by the chronological age times 100. Traditionally, an average IQ is considered to be 100.”Glossary of Terms | National Association for Gifted Children (nagc.org)
Interoception – the sense that helps a person understand and feel what’s going on inside one’s body.
Learning Disability (LD)- “A disability in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell or to do mathematical calculations. This includes conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, and developmental aphasia. The term does not apply to individuals who have learning problems that are primarily the result of physical or mental disabilities, behavior disorder, or environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.” Glossary of Special Education Terms – Utah Parent Center
Learning Styles – “Preferred way(s) in which individuals interact or process new information across the three domains of learning identified in the taxonomy of education objectives: cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (attitude). An individual’s learning preference/learning style is how he or she learns best.” Glossary of Terms | National Association for Gifted Children (nagc.org)
Micro Schools – A purposefully small school led by a trained professional or a group of professionals offering flexible programming. It may consist of smaller, mixed-age classes guided by the same teacher which focus on “whole-student” learning and often utilize project-based or digital learning. Sometimes referred to as cottage schools, one-room schoolhouses, hybrid schools, or blending learning centers.
Modifications – “Changes in curriculum or instruction that substantially change the requirements of the class or substantially alter the content standards or benchmarks.” Glossary of Special Education Terms – Utah Parent Center
Motor Planning – the ability to organize the body’s actions: knowing what steps to take and in what order, to complete a particular task. Motor Planning, Control, and Coordination (verywellfamily.com)
Neurodevelopmental Disorder – a condition where the development of the central nervous system (namely the brain) is abnormal in some form or fashion. More specifically, this is taken to mean that such a disorder affects people as they develop a neurological function that influences emotional expression and understanding, memory, impulse control, and learning among other characteristics. Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Definition, Symptoms & Treatment | Study.com
Neurodiversity – the idea that it’s normal and acceptable for people to have brains that function differently from one another. What Is Neurodiversity? (verywellmind.com)
Neuroplasticity – the brain’s capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences; the ability for the brain to adapt or change over time, by creating new neurons and building new networks. Neuroplasticity | Psychology Today
Occupational Therapy (OT)– “a client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life.” About Occupational Therapy | WFOT
Physical Therapy (PT)– “therapy for the preservation, enhancement, or restoration of movement and physical function impaired or threatened by disease, injury, or disability that utilizes therapeutic exercise, physical modalities (such as massage and electrotherapy), assistive devices, and patient education and training.” Physical Therapy | Definition of Physical Therapy by Merriam-Webster
Proprioception – “body awareness” sense. The proprioceptive system tells us where our body parts are in space without us having to look for them. Understanding the Senses: Proprioception | Pathways.org
Prevalence Rate – the number of persons in the population who have a disease or medical condition at any given time
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) – “The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 addresses protections for students with disabilities. Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the department.” About IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Related Services – “Services that are required to assist an individual with disabilities to benefit from special education, including but not limited to: transportation, OT, PT, medical care.” Glossary of Special Education Terms – Utah Parent Center
Response to Intervention (RtI) – “RtI is a general education method to identifying and serving students with diverse educational needs, particularly those children with disabilities. Read The Association for the Gifted/ Council for Exceptional Children’s description of RtI and how it can be used.” Glossary of Terms | National Association for Gifted Children (nagc.org)
Self-Stimulatory Behavior (“Stimming”) – behavior that is marked by a repetitive action or movement of the body (such as repeatedly tapping on objects or the ears, snapping the fingers, blinking the eyes, rocking from side to side, or grunting) and is typically associated with certain conditions (such as autism spectrum disorder) Stimming | Definition of Stimming by Merriam-Webster
Sensory Diet – “a tailored plan of physical activities and accommodations designed to meet a child’s sensory needs. The goal is to get kids in a “just right” state.” It can be used as part of sensory integration therapy. What is sensory diet treatment? | Understood – For learning and thinking differences
Sensory Processing or Integration – is the effective registration (and accurate interpretation) of sensory input in the environment (including one’s body). It is the way the brain receives, organizes, and responds to sensory input in order to behave in a meaningful & consistent manner. Sensory Processing | Sensory Integration | Kid Sense Child Development
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)– a condition that occurs when there is a breakdown in communication between sensory input from the body and the brain. While the disorder is commonly recognized among professionals and laypersons alike, it is not an officially recognized diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5).
Sleep Hygiene – Habits and practices that are conducive to sleeping well on a regular basis. Examples of good sleep hygiene practices here.
Special Education (SPED) – “Specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of an eligible individual, includes the specially designed instruction conducted in schools, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings. Special education provides a continuum of services in order to provide for the education needs of each eligible individual regardless of the nature or severity of the educational needs.” Glossary of Special Education Terms – Utah Parent Center
Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) – “a disorder in 1 or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations.” Specific Learning Disorder is the diagnostic term used by licensed professionals, such as psychologists, to diagnose an individual with a learning disorder based on symptoms while Specific Learning Disability is a legal term utilized in public education to address an individual’s right to special education services under IDEA. Specific Learning Disabilities (asha.org)
Speech and Language Disorders – Disorders that can include deficits in language, speech, and communication.
Speech is how we say sounds and words. People with speech problems may:
- not say sounds clearly
- have a hoarse or raspy voice
- repeat sounds or pause when speaking, called stuttering
Language is the words we use to share ideas and get what we want. A person with a language disorder may have problems:
- understanding
- talking
- reading
- writing
Speech Therapy – “an intervention service that focuses on improving a child’s speech and abilities to understand and express language, including nonverbal language.” What Is Speech Therapy? | Parents
Stereotypic Movement Disorder – “a condition in which a person makes repetitive, purposeless movements. These can be hand waving, body rocking, or headbanging. The movements interfere with normal activity or may cause bodily harm.”Stereotypic movement disorder: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Theraplay – “an approach to child and family therapy that aims to address behavioral, emotional, or developmental issues and improve the parent-child relationship through play and healthy interaction.” Theraplay (goodtherapy.org)
Twice Exceptional Learners (2e) – “The term “twice-exceptional,” also referred to as “2e,” is used to describe gifted children who, have the characteristics of gifted students with the potential for high achievement and give evidence of one or more disabilities as defined by federal or state eligibility criteria. These disabilities may include specific learning disabilities (SpLD), speech and language disorders, emotional/behavioral disorders, physical disabilities, autism spectrum, or other impairments such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).” Twice-Exceptional Students | National Association for Gifted Children (nagc.org)
Vestibular System – one of the seven sensory systems; the vestibular system is responsible for movement, balance, and coordination.
For a list of other useful terms not included in this glossary, please visit Glossary Page for the Legal Framework (esc18.net) or Glossary of Terms | National Association for Gifted Children (nagc.org).
This website is not a professional counseling website and nothing here should be construed as professional counseling advice. Although Kimberly Bennett, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, she is not your counselor, and no counselor-client relationship is established unless she has signed an agreement with you. All information provided through this website is for informational and educational purposes only. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement. Thanks for visiting!
