Special Education Jargon

Crowley, E.P. and Drake, F.D. (eds.)(2002). Teaching history in inclusive settings. Unpublished handbook.

Illinois State University. 69-71.

Adaptive devices special tools that are adaptations of common items to make accomplishing self-care, work, or recreation activities easier for people with disabilities.

ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition characterized by severe problems of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity; often found in persons with learning disabilities.

Auditory blending blending of sounds into words.

Auditory discrimination ability to hear differences and similarities in spoken words.

Auditory memory ability to recall information that is heard.

Autism a developmental disability characterized by extreme withdrawal, cognitive deficits, language disorders, self-stimulation, and onset before the age of 30 months.

Behavior a relationship between stimulus and response that involves observable and measurable action.

Behavior modification the process that creates a change in the observable and measurable behavior

Collaboration to work together towards a common goal.

Contract a written agreement between a teacher and a student that outlines specific behavior and consequences.

Discrimination the ability to differentiate between visual, auditory, tactile. and other sensory stimuli.

Distractibility attention that is easily removed away from the task.

Hyperactivity excessive activity in relation to others of the same age and in similar situations.

Individualized Education Plan (IEP) an individual program designed for a student who qualifies for special education services.

Impulsivity acting or speaking out without considering the consequences.

Inclusion the placement of students with disabilities in classrooms with their peers.

Inclusive schooling a school setting in which students receive their educational instruction within the classroom setting for the entire or a substantial portion of their school day.

Least restrictive environment(LRE) a term requiring that students with disabilities are placed in the educational environments that best meets their educational needs.

Modifications adaptations made in the curriculum, presentation, or environment to provide support for the individual student.

Memory recall of visual, auditory, or tactile stimuli.

Mnemonics visual or word related aids that facilitate retrieval of information

Parallel activity an assignment in which the outcome is similar for all students but the materials used to reach the outcomes may be entirely different.

Remediation focusing on the development of basic skills.

Short attention span inability to pay attention to something for a long period of time compared to others of the same age.

Supplemental teaching teaching a student using alternative curriculum, materials, and behavior management procedures.

Supportive teaching modifications made to the classroom curriculum or to the environment by the special education teacher or inclusion assistant which will allo0w the student to experience success in the mainstream

Team teaching two teachers working together jointly to develop, plan, and teach a lesson.

Visual discrimination ability to perceive similarities and differences in pictures, words, and symbols.

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