Special Education 303 MODULE 1-2

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the context and content of special education, including key terms and concepts discussed in the lecture.

Special Education

A customized instructional program designed to meet the unique needs of an individual learner.

Medical Model of Disability

Disability as a consequence of a health condition, which disrupts physiological or cognitive functioning. (What’s wrong and how to treat it)

Functional Model of Disability

Disability caused by physical, medical, or cognitive deficits that limit the ability to perform functional activities. (what a person can or cannot do in daily activities)

Social Model of Disability

A person's activities are limited not by their impairment but by environmental barriers. (whether barriers exist because of the condition or how an environment is organized)

Person First Language

puts the person first to emphasize their humanity before their disability (e.g., "person with a disability").

IDEA Categories identifies these thirteen categories of disability

1. autism

2. deaf blindness

3. developmental delay

4. emotional disturbance

5. hearing impairments including deafness

6. intellectual disability

7. multiple disabilities

8. orthopedic impairments

9. other health impairments

10. specific learning disabilities

11. speech or learning impairments

12. traumatic brain injury

13. visual impairments including blindness

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

A plan developed to ensure that a child with a disability receives specialized instruction.

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

The setting that allows students with disabilities to participate in the general education setting to the greatest extent appropriate.

Exceptional Children

An inclusive term often referring to individuals who differ from societal standards of whats considered normalcy. DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN A CHILD NEEDS SPECIAL EDUCATION

PFL

Person First Language

FAPE

Free appropriate public education

IDEA

Individuals with Disabilities Act

IEP

Individualized Education Program

IFSP

Individual Family Service Plan

IST/SST

Instructional Support Team/Student Support Team

LEA

Local Education Agency

LRE

Least Restrictive Environment

RTI

Response to Intervention

UDL

Universal Design For Learning

Impairment

The actual condition (physical/cognitive/sensory/emotional-behavioral)

Disability

Limitations that occur when that impairment interferes educational, social, or vocational functioning

Handicap

Impact of the disability due to the environment or circumstances surrounding a disability

Developmental Delay

A term for young children who perform significantly below developmental norms. DOES NOT PREDICT LONG TERM OUTCOMES

Full Inclusion

Educating students with disabilities in the general education setting alongside their peers.

Percentile Rank

A measure that indicates the percentage of scores that fall below a given score in a population.

Significantly Below Average

Scores that are considerably lower than the average range, often indicating need for special education.

Classification of Disabilities

The grouping of students according to specific disability categories for identification and service purposes.

Co-teaching

A collaborative teaching arrangement where general education and special education teachers work together in the classroom.

Stigmatization of Labels

The process by which labels can negatively influence the perception and treatment of individuals.

Identity-First Language (IFL)

treats disability as a core part of a person's identity (e.g., "disabled person"). This reframes disability as an identity, not a deficit. Many in the disability community prefer this language because it reflects how we naturally describe other identity characteristics. For example, we say "Canadian citizen" or "bilingual speaker" rather than "person who is Canadian" or "person who speaks two languages." For many, disability is an integral part of their identity, not something to be separated from who they are

TRUE OR FALSE: The ADA can protect you from discrimination from a disability that you no longer have (an employer can’t not hire you because they believe your recovered broken leg may be an issue)

True

Brown V Board of Education

📚 What it did: Ended racial segregation in U.S. public schools
⚖ Key ruling: “Separate but equal” is unconstitutional
🧠 Why: Segregated schools violate the 14th Amendment (Equal Protection Clause)
⭐ Impact: Overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and fueled the Civil Rights Movement

Plessy v Ferguson

📚 What it did: Upheld racial segregation laws
⚖ Key ruling: “Separate but equal” is constitutional
🧠 Why: Segregation does not violate the 14th Amendment
⭐ Impact: Legalized segregation until overturned by Brown v. Board of Education

Education for All Handicapped Children Act (1975)

📚 What it did: Guaranteed students with disabilities access to public education
⚖ Key principle: Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
🧠 Why: To protect equal educational rights for children with disabilities
⭐ Impact: Laid the foundation for IDEA and special education services in U.S.

IDEA — Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

A federal law ensuring services to children with disabilities, including special education.

📚 What it did: Ensures students with disabilities receive special education and related services
⚖ Key rights: FAPE, IEP, Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
🧠 Why: To guarantee equal access and individualized support in public education
⭐ Impact: Expanded and replaced the Education for All Handicapped Children Act

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973)

📚 What it did: Prohibits discrimination based on disability in schools and programs receiving federal funds
⚖ Key protection: Equal access through 504 accommodations
🧠 Why: To ensure students with disabilities have the same opportunities as others
⭐ Impact: Covers a broader range of disabilities than IDEA and supports inclusion without special education services

Whether a child needs IEP or 504

504 would be a medical need, IEP would mean they are not performing on level at school

RTI²

response to instruction and intervention 2 - Tennessee’s support plan that every student gets the support they need to really succeed

RTI (Response to Intervention)

📚 What it is: A multi-tiered support system to identify and help struggling students early
⚖ Key features: Tiered interventions, progress monitoring, data-based decisions
🧠 Why: To address learning difficulties before special education referral
⭐ Impact: Promotes early intervention and reduces inappropriate special education placement

IDEA 2004

📚what it is: federal law governing special education

👨‍⚖key features:

FAPE through an IEP in the LRE

Parent rights, fair evaluation, qualified teachers

Transition services (16+) & accountability

🧠why: Ensure students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)