Foundations of Learning Disabilities and Special Education

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the Foundations of Learning Disabilities and Special Education lecture notes.

Learning disabilities (LD)

Describe students with average or above intelligence who struggle in specific academic areas such as reading, writing, or math.

IDEA (2004)

Ensures that each child has the right to an individualized education in the least restrictive environment (LRE)

FAPE

Free Appropriate Public Education; ensures access to education for students with disabilities. recognized in 1963 by samuel kirk guaranteed in 1975 by Public Law 94-142

Assistive technology

Tools such as speech-to-text software and audiobooks that support access to instruction.

Response to Intervention (RTI)

A model that helps identify learning difficulties early within general education before a special education referral.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

is a legally binding written plan detailing the student’s current performance, annual measurable goals (MOO format), services, and progress monitoring.

Zero Reject & Child find

The principle that no child can be denied education regardless of the severity of their disability.

Formal tests vs. Informal assessments

Formal tests are standardized achievement tests, while informal assessments include teacher-made tests and portfolios.

Task analysis

A method that breaks down larger skills into smaller, manageable steps for teaching.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The optimal level of challenge for learning as proposed by Vygotsky.

Positive Behavioral Supports (PBS)

Reinforcement systems that teach and reward appropriate behavior.

Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)

A process used to identify the reasons behind a behavior occurs by examining antecedent, behavior, and consequence.

Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

A plan created from FBA data that aims to replace problem behaviors with positive alternatives.

Inclusion

A philosophy that emphasizes participation and belonging for students with disabilities in general education settings not just physical placement

Clinical teaching

An individualized, diagnostic, and prescriptive method of instruction.

Public Law 94-142 (1975)

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act which guaranteed FAPE for students with disabilities.

Section 504 (1973)

Legislation that ensures students with disabilities receive comparable education- to education and basic accommodations.

NCLB (2001)

No Child Left Behind Act, which emphasized accountability and teacher quality; replaced by ESSA in 2015.

Premack Principle (Grandma's Law)

A concept in behavior management stating that high-probability behaviors can reinforce low-probability behaviors.

Child Find

A principle under IDEA that mandates identification and evaluation of all children with disabilities.

Students with LD may also have related conditions

ADHD or mild emotional/behavioral issues.

ADHD or mild emotional/behavioral issues.

IDEA (2004) Guarantees

FAPE, LRE, IEPs, procedural safeguards.

Common LD Characteristics:

Reading (dyslexia), written expression, math (dyscalculia), attention deficits, social difficulties.

Brain Research:

Students with dyslexia show atypical functioning in left-hemisphere

language areas./ people with dyslexia exhibit significant differences in brain functioning.

Trends:

More students served in general-education settings and inclusive classrooms.

When was the term “learning disabilities” first officially used?

1963

assessment process

identifies a student’s strengths, weaknesses, and eligibility

for special education services.

nondiscriminatory, multiple-sourced, and

used to guide instruction.

Tier 1: 

High-quality classroom instruction and screening.

Tier 3: 

Intensive, individualized interventions and possible referral.

Screening tests

identify students who need further evaluation.

Eligibility: 

A student qualifies if a disability adversely affects educational performance.

Accommodations 

adjust how the student learns or demonstrates knowledge

What is the purpose of the IEP?

To outline measurable annual goals and specific services for an individual student.

What makes a student eligible for special education under IDEA?

A documented disability that adversely affects educational performance.

tailoring lessons to meet each student’s unique learning profile (interests, readiness, abilities).

Learning-strategies instruction

teaches students how to learn—organization, memory aids, and self-monitoring.

Multiple intelligences (Gardner):

linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-

kinesthetic, spatial, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic.

Active learning:

 learners participate through discussion, discovery, and practice.

What is differentiated instruction?

Adapting lessons to fit each student’s needs and strengths.

What does task analysis do?

Breaks complex skills into smaller, teachable steps.

Continuum of services

full range from general ed → resource → separate class →

home/hospital.

Parental rights (IDEA-2004): 

access to records, notifications, mediation, and

participation in placement decisions.

Mainstreaming: 

gradual integration based on readiness.

What is the difference between inclusion and LRE?

Inclusion = philosophy; LRE = legal requirement for placement.

What law protects parental participation rights?

IDEA 2004.

What setting allows part-day special-ed services?

Resource room.

Common co-occurring issues: 

anxiety, depression, ADHD, social skill deficits.

Antecedent: 

what happens before a behavior.

Consequence: 

what follows the behavior and maintains it.

Social stories, modeling, & peer sensitivity training

help build empathy and social understanding.

What’s the first step of an FBA?

Identify the target behavior.

What’s a replacement behavior?

A positive behavior that fulfills the same purpose as the problem behavior.

What’s another name for the Premack Principle?

Grandma’s Law.

Rowley (1982): 

schools must provide “some educational benefit.”

Endrew F. (2017): 

must be “reasonably calculated to enable progress.”

Tatro (1984); Cedar Rapids v. Garret (1999): 

related-services and medical support.

Honig v. Doe (1988): 

discipline and 10-day suspension limit.

Procedural Safeguards

parents’ rights to notice, consent, and hearing.

When was PL 94-142 enacted?

1975.

What age must a transition plan be included under IDEA 2004?

Age 16.

What does FAPE guarantee?

Free, appropriate public education designed to meet individual needs.

Technology 

supports instruction but shouldn’t replace teaching (use for access, not

entertainment).

Which of the following is true about adolescents and adults with learning disabilities with regards to computers?

They often excel in using computers.

Gender research shows which of the following?

Clinics and schools identify four times more boys than girls who have learning disabilities.

Council for Exceptional Children.

The organization which is responsible for the creation of professional teaching standards for special education is the

The latest estimate of children with autism is

1 in 50

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. (IDEA)

A definition of learning disabilities that is used in the schools is incorporated into national legislation known as

The left hemisphere of the brain does what?

reacts to and controls language-related activities

A frequent element in the definition of a learning disability is

cognitive processing factors.

The largest number of students with learning disabilities served by the schools are ages

10–14

Learning disabilities 

found among all people all over the world

pervasive support.

The type of support for students with intellectual disabilities that consists of constant high-intensity help across environments and involves more staff members is

The transition goal of most adolescents with learning disabilities after leaving high school is

competitive employment.

The term brain injured child was first used by

Straus

common core state standards?

They are designed to result in uniform expectations and are sequential.

Which of the following assessment methods looks at multiple samples of a student's classroom work?

portfolio assessment

true in reference to statewide assessment, according to the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act (IDEA-2004)

Children with disabilities are included in the testing.

used to assess a student's potential for learning

Wechsler Scale of Intelligence for Children IV 

Which of the following is considered a formal assessment measure?

standardized achievement test

Which of these goals would be written in MOO terms?

Given a group of 10 math problems at the second grade level, Laurie will be able to complete 5 of the problems without prompts from the teacher.

The participants at an IEP meeting must include all of the following EXCEPT

parent, general education teacher, special education teacher, school district representative, specialist, other specialist, student

An effective test-taking strategies for student participation in statewide assessment is which of the following?

instruct students to eliminate any answers they know are incorrect

The IEP team must consider which of the following

1. the strengths of the student

2. cultural and linguistic factors

3. accommodations for the student

4. behavioral interventions when behavior impedes learning

Standardized tests

require that prescribed procedures be followed during the administration of the test.

All of the following are commonly used to obtain assessment information about students with learning disabilities or mild disabilities EXCEPT

EEG reports

Response-to-Intervention is intended for

general education

Teachers can make modifications to help the child learn. All of the following are examples of accommodations that teachers can make EXCEPT

changing the material content.

The theory that people possess different kinds of talents that may not be represented in the school curriculum is called

multiple intelligences.

Promoting active learning is the purpose of all of the following methods EXCEPT

using drill and practice lessons.

Mr. Williams subdivides the goal of tying shoelaces into an orderly sequence of steps. This is an example of

task analysis.

What is the first procedure of task analysis?

Set a learning goal

To teach Mavin a reading lesson, her teacher first finds a difficulty level that is not too easy and not too hard. This is called

the zone of proximal development.

Mr. Cain cuts a page of arithmetic computation problems into strips and attaches only one strip to a single sheet of paper. He has changed

space factors

Which of the following is the best description of clinical teaching?

tailoring instruction for a unique student

An example of specialized instruction would include

multi-sensory instruction.

The intent of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act-2004 is to

increase the role of parents and families.

The percentage of students with learning disabilities who are served through a combination of both the general education classroom and the resource room is about

87 percent.

Most students with learning disabilities and related mild disabilities are served through

general education classrooms.

The requirement in IDEA-2004 that schools have an array of educational placements to meet the varied needs of students with disabilities is referred to as

a continuum of alternative services.