Glossary of terms: Inclusive Education
Common technical terms used in documents dealing with inclusive education.
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Accommodation
An adjustment made to an environment, situation, or supplies for individual
differences. Moving desks to make wider spaces between them is an accommodation
that could be made for a student in a wheelchair.
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Adaptation
A change in what students do or a reshaping of the materials students use.
Adaptations are essentially the same as modifications, but can specifically
refer to the materials and equipment students use to aid in learning. Enlarging
the print on a worksheet and audiotaping a textbook are examples of adaptations.
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Affective learning
The area of learning related to emotions or feelings, rather than thought
or knowledge.
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At-risk
A term used to identify students who could benefit from some type of short-term
support. These students run the risk of not succeeding for one of many reasons,
from poor academic skills to excessive absences to personal problem situations.
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Behavior contract
An agreement between a student or group of students and a teacher or para
listing specific actions each person is to demonstrate, the rewards the
student will receive for completing the task, and the consequences for failing
to do so; also called a contingency contract.
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Case manager
The special education teacher or therapist, Title I teacher, or at-risk
coordinator who is responsible for the implementation, coordination, monitoring,
and/or evaluation of a student's special-needs program. A case manager should
be a certified staff member and is responsible for the paperwork on a student's
program.
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Cognitive learning
The area of learning based on knowledge and reasoning; also called academic
learning. Compare to affective learning.
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Collaborate
To work, plan, and problem solve with other staff members and professionals
in a cooperative manner, sharing responsibilities while utilizing the individual
strengths and skills of each person.
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Compensation or compensatory instruction
Instruction aimed at "getting around" a problem or an area of difficulty.
Techniques for compensatory instruction include the use of alternative instruction,
alternative techniques, and adaptive equipment. Compensatory instruction
for a student having a low reading level could include using books on tape
or reading the material read aloud to him or her.
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Confidentiality
The privacy of information about students and their families. Confidential
information may be about problems and disabilities, test scores, background,
etc. Paras and other educators are required by law to respect the confidentiality
of this information.
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Co-teaching
An instructional arrangement in which there is more than one adult in a
classroom, instructional and classroom responsibilities are defined and
assigned, and some type of co-planning is involved. The use of the term
co-teaching in this book does not refer to a specific model, and any other
adult in the classroom can be called a co-teacher.
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General classroom
A general education class, such as a third grade class or sophomore English
class.
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Implement
To do or put into action. Student goals and objectives are often implemented
in the classroom by the paraeducator.
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Inclusion
An educational philosophy aimed at "normalizing" special services for which
students qualify. Inclusion involves an attempt to provide more of these
special services by providing additional aids and support inside the regular
classroom, rather than by pulling students out for isolated instruction.
Inclusion involves the extension of general education curricula and goals
to students receiving special services. Finally, inclusion involves shared
responsibility, problem solving, and mutual support among all the staff
members who provide services to students.
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Inclusive classroom
A classroom in which children with a diversity of learning needs and abilities
share instructional space and all staff members who are responsible for
providing support work together to benefit all the students in the class.
A variety of services are provided and a variety of student needs are met
inside the regular classroom.
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Individualized education program (plan) (IEP)
A written plan of educational goals and objectives for a student. This plan
is reviewed and rewritten each year.
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Individual family service plan (IFSP)
A written plan of special support goals and services provided to infants
and toddlers, as well as their families.
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Individual transition plan (ITP)
A written plan of transition goals, objectives, or actions included in the
IEP of special education students over the age of 14 or 16.
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Least restrictive environment
A special education term meaning the placement in which a student has the
best opportunity to achieve with the least amount of restriction, based
on individual student needs and abilities.
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Modification
A change in what students do or a reshaping of the materials students use.
Reducing the number of questions students must answer at the end of a textbook
chapter, allowing a student to answer aloud instead of writing an answer,
and allowing the student to do an activity that is different from what the
other students are doing are all examples of modifications.
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Occupational therapist
A special education-related service provider who works with students to
improve the functioning or compensate for problems in fine motor functioning.
Some of the areas OTs help with are grasping, holding, writing, and keyboarding.
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Paraeducators
Additional educational personnel hired to extend the services of a school's
program. Paraeducators usually perform instructional, clerical, or student
supervisory duties within a school or program. Other terms used to describe
paraeducators include paraprofessionals, instructional aides, and classroom
aides.
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Physical therapist
A special education-related service provider who works with students to
improve the functioning of large muscle groups, such as range of motion,
walking, positioning, etc.
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Pull-out services
Special remedial, therapeutic, or enrichment services provided to students
outside the regular classroom. In the past, almost all additional services
were provided in this manner, regardless of individual student need. One
aim of inclusion is to reduce the removal of students from the regular classroom
when the same intent of service can be provided within the regular classroom.
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Related service personnel
Special education personnel other than the special education teacher, including
therapists, counselors, psychologists, and special instructors.
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Remediation or remedial instruction
Instruction aimed at improving a skill or an ability in a student or "catching
a student up." Techniques for remedial instruction may include providing
more practice or more explanation, repeating information, and devoting more
time to working on the skill. A student having a low reading level could
be given remediation through one-on-one reading instruction, phonic instruction,
or practice in reading aloud.
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Resource classroom
A special education service model in which students can be assigned for
a certain amount of time (one hour a day, 30 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday,
etc.) or come from other classes when support or instruction is needed.
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School psychologist
A special education related service provider who works with students individually,
provides small and large group counseling, and administers formal testing
and assessment.
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Section 504 educational plan
A plan of educational goals and objectives written by regular education
teachers for students who demonstrate a need, but do not meet the identification
guidelines for areas of disability in special education.
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Self-contained classroom
A special education service model in which students receive all or most
of their instruction or support from special education teachers and staff.
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Special education
A federally mandated program organized through state and local educational
agencies that ensures and provides appropriate educational opportunities
for students qualifying under categories of disabilities.
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Support
To maintain or help a student by providing needed assistance in a variety
of intensities and methods.
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Title I
A federal program that provides remedial and proactive support to qualifying
students in the areas of math and reading.
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Transition services
Services, training, skills, support, or instruction identified as necessary
to help a special education student successfully move from a school setting
into a post-secondary setting (i.e., work, job training, technical school,
college, military, independent living, semi-independent living).
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Standard Inclusive Education abbreviations and their meanings.
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
| ADD |
Attention Deficit Disorder |
| ADHD |
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
| BD |
Behavioral Disorder |
| CP |
Cerebral Palsy |
| DD |
Developmental Delay |
ECSE
|
Early Childhood Special Education |
| E/BD |
Emotional/Behavioral Disorder |
| ED |
Emotional Disorder |
| ELL |
English Language Learners |
| EMH or EMR |
Educable Mental Handicap or Retardation |
| ESL |
English as a Second Language |
| HI |
Hearing Impairment or Hearing Disability |
| IEP |
Individualized Education Program/Plan |
| IFSP |
Individual Family Service Plan |
| IQ |
Intelligence Quotient |
| ITP |
Individual Transition Plan |
| LRE |
Least Restrictive Environment |
| LD |
Learning Disability |
| MD |
Muscular Dystrophy |
| MR |
Mental Retardation |
| OHI |
Other Health Impairment |
| OT |
Occupational Therapist |
| PI |
Physical Impairment |
| PT |
Physical Therapist |
| S/L |
Speech and Language |
| SMH |
Severe Multiple Handicaps |
| Spec. Ed. |
Special Education |
| Sp. Ed. |
Special Education |
| TBI or THI |
Traumatic Brain Injury or Traumatic Head Injury |
| TMH or TMR |
Trainable Mental Handicap or Trainable Mental Retardation |
| VI |
Visual Impairment or Visual Disability |
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