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A GUIDE TO SPECIAL EDUCATION TERMS FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATOR

(to help General Education Teachers understand the lingo of Special Education)

Disabilities

Mild/Moderate (M/M)

Moderate Severe (M/S)

1.Specific Learning Disability

  • A deficit in one or more of the following
  • Attention
  • Visual Processing
  • Auditory Processing
  • Sensory Motor Skills
  • Cognitive Abilities including
  • Association
  • Conceptualization
  • Expression

2.OHI – Other Health Impairment

  • Frequently indicates that student has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder at some point
  • May also be due to another mild mental or physical health issue

3.ED – Emotional Disturbance

  • Any of the following characteristics determined by psychometric assessment, observations, and interviews which have existed over a long period of time and have adversely affected a student’s educational performance:
  • An inability to learn which cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors
  • An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers
  • Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances exhibited in several situations
  • A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression
  • A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems

4.OI – Orthopedic Impairment

  • A physical disability that adversely affects school performance

5.TBI - Traumatic brain injury

  • A form ofacquired brain injury that occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. Symptoms of mild TBI include headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue or lethargy, a change in sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, and trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking.

6.AUT - Autism

  • A complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

7.MRM – Mental Retardation Mild

  • These students have intellectual impairments that usually require them to use an Alternate Curriculum in self-contained classrooms for most of the school day.

8.DHH/HOH- Deaf and Hard of Hearing

  • Partial or Total Hearing Impairment that require teachers to provide accommodations and may require Assistive Technology and DHH professional services.

9.SLI – Speech and Language Impairment

  • These students may have receptive/expressive language impairment and may require services of the Language and Speech (LAS) professionals.

10.VI – Visual Impairment

  • Partial or Total visual impairmentthat may require Assistive Technology and Vision professional services.

11.MDO- Multiples Disabilities Orthopedic

  • Physical disability in conjunction with other intellectual Disabilities.

Special Education Programs

Grade Level Curriculum- High School Diploma

RSP – Resource Specialist Program

  • Students in this program are enrolled in General Education classes and receive support from a Resource Specialist Teacher (RST).
  • Most students with disabilities in General Education classes will be in the RSP program. They have identified disabilities that are milder than students in Special Day Program (SDP) classes.

SDP Grade Level Curriculum – Special Day Program

  • Students in this program disabilities and need to be in smaller classes with additional adult assistance.
  • Most of the students in General Education in the SDP program, although occasionally some of our students may be enrolled in an SDP class for one specific subject.

SDP Alternate Curriculum

  • This program is for students with more severe disabilities who are working towards a Certificate of Completion rather than a High School Diploma.

Services

Designated Instructional Services (DIS)

  • Speech and language (LAS)
  • Counseling (PUC)
  • Occupational therapy (OT)
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing support (DHH)
  • Adaptive Physical Education (APE)
  • Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS)
  • Visual Impairment Services (VIS)
  • Physical Therapy (PT)
  • Behavioral Intervention Therapy (BIT)
  • Resource Specialist (RSP) –co-planning or co-teaching in Math and/or ELA
  • Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) - counseling

Other Commonly Used Acronyms

IEP – Individualized Education Program

ITP –Individualized Transition Plan

BSP- Behavior Support Plan

PLOP – Present Level of Performance

SESAC – Special Education Student Assignment Coordination