Glossary of Commonly Used Terms

Below you will find some commonly used words and phrases on this website and others when discussing Learning Disabilities and disabilities in general. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it is meant to be informative. Please use the + symbol to see the definition of the word(s) you’re interested in.
Changes made to the format, response, setting, timing or scheduling that do not significantly change the original objective
Related service for students with disabilities who require developmental, corrective, and/or supportive instruction in physical education
The ability of an individual to demonstrate appropriate personal independence, social responsibility, and environmental awareness for his or her chronological age and cultural group
The alternate assessment is designed for students with disabilities who cannot participate in the state standardized testing and reporting system. It is a means of including students with the most severe disabilities in the State’s assessment and accountability program.
This act prohibits discrimination of individuals based on disability. Public transportation services have to be accessible to individuals with disabilities and discrimination in the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities is prohibited.
Application of learning principles derived from operant conditioning; used to increase or decrease specific behaviors; considerable research supporting its use with individuals with autism
Process of gathering information and identifying a student’s strengths and needs; data used in making decisions regarding a student’s eligibility for special education and IEP needs.
Any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the capabilities of or enhance learning for students with disabilities.
A condition that can make it hard for a person to sit still, control behavior and pay attention. Children with AD/HD are sometimes eligible for special education services under IDEA’s “other health impairment” disability category.
A developmental disorder characterized by abnormal or impaired development in social- communication skills and restricted and/or repetitive patterns of behavior.
A BCBA is a behavioral specialist who has completed the requisite course work, practicum hours and test scores in order to fulfill the nationally-accredited certification. It is prestigious and difficult certification to achieve and specialists with this degree are considered experts in behavioral programming and modification for students with ASD.
A certification one step below BCBA that indicates a teacher has completed the requisite school, experiential, and test work to demonstrate comprehension and application of behavioral analysis skills.
The act or process of knowing; analytical or logical thinking.
Assurance that no information contained in school records be released without parental permission, except as provided by law.
Permission from the parent/student (eighteen years or older) required by law for individualized assessment and/or implementation of an IEP for the provision of special education services.
The core curriculum is the range of knowledge and skills which are included in the district- adopted course of study and which must be learned for successful grade promotion and graduation. The curriculum may include academic as well as cultural, social and moral knowledge and skills. IEP goals should reflect knowledge and implementation of the district’s core curriculum as adapted for the student with a disability.

The Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) is responsible for identifying and
arranging for the delivery of special education services for preschool children with disabilities
from ages three to five. The CPSE is responsible for guiding parents in a process that includes
evaluation and, if eligible, the recommendation for placement in approved programs and services
for each preschool student with a disability. The educational programs and services for preschool
children with disabilities are the responsibility of the school district in which the student resides
in accordance with New York State Education Law, Article 89. When parents contact the CPSE
in Rush-Henrietta School District, they must establish proof of residency.
The CPSE shall review, at least annually, the status of each preschool child with a disability.
The membership of each committee on preschool special education shall include, but not be
limited to:

  • The parents of a preschool child.
  • At least one regular education teacher of the child whenever the child is or may be
    participating in the regular education environment.
  • At least one special education teacher of the child, or, if appropriate, not less than one
    special education provider of the child.
  • A representative of the school district who is qualified to provide or supervise special
    education and who is knowledgeable about the general education curriculum and the
    availability of preschool special education programs and services and other resources of
    the school district and the municipality. The representative of the school district shall
    serve as the chairperson of the committee.
  • An additional parent member of a child with a disability residing in the school district or a neighboring school district and whose child is enrolled in a preschool or elementary level education program, provided that such parent is not a required member of the parent(s) of the child request that the additional parent member not participate.
  • An individual who can interpret the instructional implications of evaluation results, the school psychologist, the representative of the school district.
  • Other persons having the knowledge or special expertise regarding the child, including related services personnel as appropriate, as the school district or the parents shall designate. The determination of knowledge or special expertise of such person shall be made by the party (parents or school district) who invited the individual to be a member of the committee on special education.
  • For a child in transition from early intervention programs and services, the appropriate professional designated by the agency that has been charged with the responsibility for the preschool child.
  • A representative of the municipality of the preschool child’s residence. The attendance of the representative of the municipality shall not be required for a quorum.”

The Board of Education annually appoints a Committee on Special Education (CSE) whose
membership includes, but is not limited to the following members:

  • Parents/guardians of the student
  • At least one regular education teacher of such student (if the student is or may be participating in the regular education environment)
  • At least one special education teacher or one special education provider (i.e., related
    service provider) of the student
  • A representative of the District who is qualified to provide/administer/supervise special
    education and who is knowledgeable about the general curriculum and the availability of
    resources of the District
  • An individual who can interpret the instructional implications of evaluation results; may be a CSE member selected from the regular education teacher, the special  education
    teacher or provider, the school psychologist, or the District representative described
    above, or a person having the knowledge or special expertise regarding the student as
    determined by the District
  • At the discretion of the parents/guardians or the District, other individuals who have the
    knowledge or special expertise regarding the student, including related services personnel
  • When appropriate, the student with a disability
  • School psychologist
  • School physician (if requested in writing by the parents/guardians or District at least 72
    hours prior to the meeting)
  • Parent member (The parent member is a parent/guardian of a student with a disability
    residing in the District or a neighboring school district. The parent member shall not be a required member if the parents/guardians of the student request, in writing, that the
    additional parent member not participate in the meeting.)
The Board of Education annually appoints a Committee on Special Education (CSE) whose membership includes, but is not limited to the following members:  Parents/guardians of the student  At least one regular education teacher of such student (if the student is or may be participating in the regular education environment)  At least one special education teacher or one special education provider (i.e., related service provider) of the student  A representative of the District who is qualified to provide/administer/supervise special education and who is knowledgeable about the general curriculum and the availability of resources of the District  An individual who can interpret the instructional implications of evaluation results; may be a CSE member selected from the regular education teacher, the special education teacher or provider, the school psychologist, or the District representative described above, or a person having the knowledge or special expertise regarding the student as determined by the District  At the discretion of the parents/guardians or the District, other individuals who have the knowledge or special expertise regarding the student, including related services personnel  When appropriate, the student with a disability  School psychologist  School physician (if requested in writing by the parents/guardians or District at least 72 hours prior to the meeting)  Parent member (The parent member is a parent/guardian of a student with a disability residing in the District or a neighboring school district. The parent member shall not be a required member if the parents/guardians of the student request, in writing, that the additional parent member not participate in the meeting.)
An inability or incapacity to perform a task or activity in a normative manner.
An instructional procedure in which students are presented with many trials of the same task and receive reinforcement for making correct responses; DTT is a common educational strategy for learners with autism
Procedural safeguards to ensure the protection of the rights of the parent/guardian and the student under IDEA
Special education eligibility criteria for students who exhibit one or more of the identified characteristics to a marked degree over an extended period of time in a variety of settings that adversely affects a student’s educational performance.
Procedures used by qualified personnel to determine whether a child has a disability and the nature and extent of the special education and/or related services that the child needs.
Skills required to produce language for reliable communication with others; speaking and writing are expressive language skills
This Act indicates requirements for the protection of privacy of parents and students
Functions that require small muscle movements such as writing, tying shoes, and buttoning a shirt
Using published, standardized tests usually for measuring student characteristics, such as “intelligence” or “achievement,” rather than skills, such as “brushing teeth” or “following a schedule;” these tests have a standard set of directions for their use and interpretation.
Every student with a disability is entitled to special education services in a setting which meets his or her individual needs and the IEP is designed to provide educational benefit
Substitution of life skills as a means for teaching academic tasks; the core of many instructional programs for students with moderate to severe disabilities
Functional analysis is conducted for a student with a disability who displays a serious behavior problem. In a clinical setting, trained behavior therapists manipulate the environment in order to “test” different behavioral hypotheses. An FA provides the most conclusive evidence for behavioral function.
A functional behavioral assessment is a systematic strategy for determining the function of challenging behavior. Trained therapist collect data, interview service providers, and observe the student in order to identify the most probably motivating factor for a specific behavior
Functions that require large muscle movements such as running, jumping, or swimming
Inclusion is a philosophy and /or practice focused on educating each child with a disability, to the maximum extent appropriate, in the school and/or classroom he or she would otherwise attend. Inclusion entails bringing the support services to the child instead of relocating the child to an alternative setting to receive services
Testing done by someone who doesn’t work for the school system. Parents may either pay for such an evaluation themselves or ask the school district to pay. The school district can either agree or dispute the need for the I.E.E. by filing for a due process hearing.
A plan developed by the child’s educational team that coordinates special education services for eligible infants and toddlers and their families
A plan that describes the special education and/or related services that the LEA will provide to an eligible student voluntarily enrolled by their parent in a private school setting
A plan included in a student’s IEP beginning at age 16 or younger that addresses transition needs, interagency responsibilities, and prerequisite skills that a student requires to successfully transition from school to adult life
A written detailed plan developed by a collaborative team for each student ages 3-21 who receives special education services
The federal law that ensures that all children with disabilities have access to free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their needs
Measuring student performance through classroom observations, interviewing, or teacher-made tests that have not been utilized with large groups of people and which do not necessarily have a standard set of instructions for their use and interpretation
In accordance with 34 Code of Federal Regulations and Education Code: (1) Parent has been fully informed of all information relevant to the activity for which consent is sought, in his/her primary language or other mode of communication; (2) The parent understands and agrees in writing to the carrying out of the activity for which his/her consent is sought, and the consent describes the activity and lists the record (if any) which will be released and to whom; and (3) The parent understands that the granting of consent is voluntary on his/her part and may be revoked at any time
The score obtained on a test of mental ability; determined by comparing an individual’s test score to his or her age.
A standardized series of questions and/or tasks designed to measure mental abilities, including how a person thinks, reasons, solves problems, remembers, and learns new information
Replaces the term mental retardation; means significantly below average general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period that negatively impacts a child’s educational performance
The concept in State and Federal law that students with disabilities will be provided special education and related services in a setting which promotes interaction with the general school population and classmates who are typically developing, to a degree appropriate to the needs of both. The LRE is determined by the IEP team on an individual student basis.
A local school district, County Office of Education, or approved independent charter school which has the responsibility to provide special education services to eligible students.
Refers to the selective placement of students with disabilities in one or more general education classes and/or other school activities.
A conflict resolution process that can be used to resolve special education issues. Mediation is entered into prior to holding a due process hearing. It is the intent of the legislature that the mediation conference is an intervening, informal process conducted in a non-adversarial atmosphere that allows the parties to create their own solutions rather than having one imposed upon them through the judicial process. When a parent files, the mediation will be scheduled within thirty-five days of state receipt of a hearing request. When a district files, the mediation will be scheduled within fifteen days of state receipt of a hearing request.
Changes to curriculum and assessment that significantly alter the expectations for the student
Group of professionals from different disciplines who function as a team but perform their roles independent of one another
A private, nonsectarian school that enrolls students with disabilities who are on an IEP
Professionals trained in helping students address daily living skills, fine motor skills, and sensory issues in 1:1 or small group settings
Services provided by a qualified occupational therapist that remediate daily living skills, fine motor skills, and sensory issues
Means having limited strength, vitality or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment that is due to chronic or acute health problems and adversely affects a student’s educational performance
The natural or adoptive parent, guardian, or person appointed to act as a parent for a student
Procedural Safeguards must be given to the parents of child with a disability at a minimum (a) Upon initial referral for evaluation; (b) Upon each notification of an IEP meeting; (c) Upon reevaluation of a child; and (d) Upon receipt of a request for due process; also called Parent Rights
A specialist who holds a valid special education credential and has advanced training and related experience in the education of students with disabilities.
The federal legislation governing the education of all handicapped students. PL 94 -142 mandated that all public schools in the U.S. provide “a free, appropriate public education and related services” to “all handicapped children.” Law has been revised numerous times since its original introduction; renamed IDEA and then IDEIA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act)
Ability to understand what one has read
Receiving and understanding spoken or written communication; receptive language skills include listening and reading
The process of requesting an evaluation for a student who is suspected of having a disability to determine eligibility for special education and/or related services.
The learning principle that states that when behaviors are immediately followed by a preferred item, activity, or condition then that behavior will be more likely to occur in the future
Services defined by federal law whose purpose is to assist a student with a disability to derive benefit from special education; includes transportation services, speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, etc.
A tiered model for intervention in which students who are at risk for special education referrals are exposed to gradually increasing levels of support instead of placement changes.
Professional trained to give psychological tests, interpret results, provide counseling, and suggest appropriate educational approaches to learning or behavioral problems
A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities, public and private, that receive federal financial assistance. Any person is protected who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (2) has a record of such impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such impairment.
Refers to feeding, dressing, and other activities necessary for independent functioning in a family, in school, and in the community
Refers to person or agency providing some type of service to children with a disability and/or their families.
Using direct instruction to teach students appropriate social behaviors that increase an individual’s social competency, acceptance, and adaptation
Specifically designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the individual needs of a child with a disability
A communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that negatively impacts a student’s educational performance
Professional trained to identify, assess, diagnose, and correct various types of communication disorders
Instructional strategy in which complex, multi-step tasks are analyzed and broken down into sequential component parts, with each part taught separately and then as a whole
Transition services are a coordinated set of activities for a student, designed within an outcome- oriented process, which promote movement from school to post-school activities, including post- secondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (i.e. supported employment), continuing education, adult services, independent living, or community participation. These activities are derived from the individual student’s needs, taking into account the student’s preference and interests. The process begins at sixteen years (or younger) and includes the student, family, education personnel and vocational and adult service providers
An acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that negatively impacts a student’s educational performance.