Exam 1 Review: EDU 260 Key Terms (Person-First Terminology & Special Education)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the notes on person-first terminology, inclusion, IDEA/ADA, MTSS/RTI, and specific learning disabilities.

Person-first terminology

A way of referring to individuals that emphasizes the person before the disability (e.g., 'person with autism' instead of 'autistic person').

Special Education

Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.

Related services (IDEA)

Services required to help a student with disabilities benefit from special education (e.g., audiology, speech-language, occupational therapy, transportation, etc.).

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

Educating students with disabilities in the setting most like that of typical peers, with appropriate supports.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Designing instruction from the start to meet a wide range of learners, reducing the need for retrofitting later.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)

A prevention framework with universal screening and escalating interventions based on progress data.

Response to Intervention (RTI)

Tiered approach to identify and address learning/behavioral issues early, focusing on prevention and progress monitoring.

Positive Behavior Supports (PBS)

School-wide and classroom strategies to define, teach, and reinforce positive behaviors.

Assistive and Instructional Technology (AT)

Devices and services that improve learning and functional abilities for students with disabilities.

Inclusion

Belief and practice of educating all students, with supports, in general education settings.

IDEA

Individu­als with Disabilities Education Act; federal law protecting educational rights of students with disabilities.

Zero Reject

All students with disabilities must be provided a public education.

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)

Education tailored to individual needs at no cost to families, including specially designed instruction and related services.

Nondiscriminatory Evaluation

Assessments conducted fairly and impartially, in the child’s native language, using multiple measures.

Procedural Safeguards

Parental rights and protections in the special education process, including consent and meeting participation.

Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

A written plan detailing a student’s goals, services, and placement, updated annually.

IEP Team

Group including parents, teachers, school staff, and other experts who develop and monitor the IEP.

Transition Services

Coordinated activities to promote movement from school to post-school outcomes (e.g., work, college) typically starting around age 16.

Federal Categories of Disabilities

The 13 categories used to identify eligibility for special education.

Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD)

Disorder in basic psychological processes affecting listening, thinking, reading, writing, or math not due to other disabilities.

Speech or Language Impairment

Disorders that affect listening, speaking, or understanding language.

Intellectual Disabilities

Limited intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors that impact daily life and learning.

Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Severe emotional or behavioral responses that adversely affect educational performance.

Autism

A neurodevelopmental disorder on the spectrum affecting communication, social interaction, and behavior.

Hearing Impairment

Disorders affecting the ability to hear, including deafness.

Visual Impairment

Partial to complete loss of vision impacting learning and instruction.

Deaf and Blindness

Combined hearing and vision loss affecting access to information and instruction.

Orthopedic or Physical Impairment

Physical disabilities that affect mobility or body function and mobility.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Brain injury from an external mechanical force, impacting cognition, behavior, or physical functioning.

Other Health Impairments (OHI)

Conditions that limit alertness or energy (e.g., ADHD) affecting learning.

Multiple Disabilities

Having two or more disabilities that require combined special education strategies.

Developmental Delays

Delays in multiple areas of development that may qualify a child for early intervention services.

Dyslexia

A neurobiological reading disorder with difficulties in accurate/ fluent word recognition and decoding.

Dyscalculia

A learning disability affecting mathematics skills and concepts.

Dysgraphia

Disorder affecting writing ability, including handwriting and written expression.

Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD)

Difficulty processing auditory information in the brain, not due to peripheral hearing loss.

Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities

Difficulty interpreting nonverbal cues (facial expressions, body language) and social information.

Disproportionate Representation

Over- or under-representation of certain groups in special education or gifted education.