Special Education Vocabulary
IDEA
What is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Every special education eligible student by age 16 must have, as part of their IEP, a plan to help them move from school to further education, training, employment and independent living.
What is transition plan
A BIP is often created after a student’s behavior has been analyzed using this assessment tool.
What is a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)?
This service supports students with communication difficulties and often includes articulation, language, and fluency therapy.
What is speech therapy?
This ensures that no changes can be made in a child's program without prior notice to the parents. It also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disagreements when parents disagree with the program recommendations of the school district.
What is due process?
When a child appears to be struggling in school parents, teachers or other school personnel can do this (Think Child Find)
Who can make a referral for special education?
This type of reinforcement involves giving a student something positive when they exhibit a desired behavior.
What is positive reinforcement?
This type of therapy helps students develop fine motor skills needed for tasks like writing and using scissors.
What is occupational therapy?
This type of meeting brings together parents, teachers, and school staff to develop or revise a student's IEP.
What is an IEP meeting?
This support alters the curriculum or expectations for a student, such as reducing the number of assignments.
What is a modification?
This related service involves supporting students’ physical mobility and motor skills.
What is physical therapy?
Under Vermont law, school districts must provide a comprehensive range of services and supports for students who struggle in school. These services range from short-term help to catch a student up with classmates to having a detailed plan of support services that are very specific to the needs of a student with a disability. There are two primary goals of this law. The first is to provide support to students as early as possible. The second goal is to avoid or reduce the need for more costly and intensive supports for students as they progress in school.
What is a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
This section of the IEP outlines the specific academic and functional skills a student will work on during the school year.
What are annual goals?
True or False: Modifications change the content a student learns, while accommodations change how the student learns it.
True
This related service provides students with the tools and strategies they need to successfully navigate school environments, often supporting social and emotional needs.
What is counseling?
LRE
What is Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
This is the term for the placement decision that ensures students with disabilities are educated with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.
What is the least restrictive environment (LRE)?
A condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics of an extended period of time, to a marked degree & adversely affects a child's education performance: 1)Inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory or health factors 2) Inability to build or maintain satisfactory relationships with peers & adults 3) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances 4) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression 5) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.
What is Emotional Disability?
Allowing a student to respond orally instead of writing is an example of this type of support.
What is an accommodation?
This service involves specialized transportation to ensure students with disabilities can attend school and school-related activities.
What is special transportation?