A
Academic Classes - Courses in basic subjects. The elementary level consists of reading, arithmetic, science, and social studies. The secondary level includes English, history, science, and math.

Accommodations - Classroom or work environment practices that allow an individual to more efficiently complete tasks. Allowing one to sit in the front of the class, extra time for tests, and use of a tape recorder during meetings are all examples of accommodation.

Achievement Test - A test built to measure what knowledge a person has acquired in a specific subject area (eg, reading or math). Also called educational tests.

ADA - The Americans with Disabilities Act. According to the ADA, established in 1992, "the ADA Act is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in everyday activities, such as buying an item at the store, going to the movies, enjoying a meal at a local restaurant, exercising at the health club, or having the car serviced at a local garage."

Adaptive Physical Education - A special physical education program designed to suit the capabilities and limitations of a student who, for any number of reasons, is unable to engage in regular physical education.

ADD - Attention deficit disorder. Sometimes used synonymously with ADHD, it is also used to describe the disorder with or without hyperactivity. See also Attention Deficit Disorder.

ADD/WHO - Attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity.

ADDA - National Attention Deficit Disorder Association (www.ADD.org). According to the ADDA, it is a "not-for-profit organization whose mission is to help people with ADD lead happier, more successful lives through education, research, and public advocacy."

ADHD - Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity. See also Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder.

Advocacy - The act of arguing in favor of or on behalf of another person or organization. In the context of education, advocacy often refers to fighting for the educational rights of a child.

Alternate Assessments - Differing approaches used in assessing one's knowledge that may include oral exams or written reports. Used instead of the traditional pen-and-paper mode of testing.

Alternative Medicine - An alternative to traditional forms of medicine. Can include homeopathy, acupuncture, and herbology. Often, results or effects are not scientifically explainable.

Alternate Schools - Schools that veer from the traditional structure by either having a more rigid or flexible learning environment. Term may be attributed to schools for students with behavior issues or for advanced students.

Amphetamines - A class of medications used in the treatment of ADHD, they are psychosocial (brain) stimulants. Often referred to as stimulants in the context of ADHD treatment.

Antidepressant - An agent used to counter or treat depression.

Anxiety Disorder - A serious medical illness that fills people's lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear. It is chronic, relentless, and can grow progressively worse if not treated.

Aptitude - A natural ability or talent for something, such as mathematics or science.

Aptitude Test - A standardized test used in measuring one's ability for acquiring a skill or knowledge.

Articulation (Speech) - The act of verbally communicating; making sound.

Assessment - The evaluation of a person's skills or adeptness at a given task. In reference to ADHD, it can be the comparison of a child's performance against the "norm."

Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder (ADHD) - A condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity.

Attention Span - The duration of time one can concentrate on a subject or idea without distraction or losing interest. See also Distractibility.

Audiologist - A specialist who evaluates and treats those whose communication (or hearing) disorders stem fully or partially from hearing impairment.

Auditory Discrimination - Ability to detect differences in sounds. Such discrimination may be gross ability (detecting the differences between the noises made by a cat and dog) or fine ability (detecting the differences made by the sounds of letters "m" and "n").

Auditory Memory - One's capacity to retain information transmitted orally. Memory can be: short-term, such as remembering information presented just seconds; long-term, such as recalling information presented more than a minute before; or sequential, such as recalling a string of information in a certain pattern or sequence.

Autism - A childhood psychiatric disorder marked by insufficient communication and social interaction, an enhanced fantasy world, speech impediment, and abnormal behavior. Usually associated with mental impairment.

B
Basic Skill Area - Such subjects as reading, writing, spelling, mathematics.

Bedwetting - Involuntary urination (usually during sleep). See also Enuresis.

Behavior Intervention Plan - A course of action designed to modify or correct certain behavioral problems, and is found in a student's (Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Behavior Modification - When rewards are used to reinforce and encourage positive behavior.

Biofeedback - The use of monitoring devices to provide information regarding an involuntary bodily function in an effort to gain some voluntary control.

Bipolar Disorder - A psychiatric disorder characterized by starkly opposing mood swings. Previously known as manic depression.

Body Image - One's concept of one's physical appearance based on self- and other people's perception.

Brain Damage - Brain injury due to accident involving head trauma, lack of proper oxygen circulation, or infection, etc., that may be associated with behavioral disorders.

Brain Imaging Techniques - Recently developed, noninvasive techniques for studying the activity of living brains. Includes brain electrical activity mapping (BEAM), computerized axial tomography (CAT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Bruxism - Teeth grinding or clenching during nervousness or frustration.

C
Catastrophic Reaction - A display of terror, grief, frustration, or anger without any apparent cause or stimulant. May be caused by changes in daily routine and by unexpected (even traumatic) events. Children exhibiting such behavior may impulsively scream, cry, or damage things.

CEC - Council for Exceptional Children. According to the CEC, they are "the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted."

Central Nervous System (CNS) - The brain and spinal cord.

Cerebral Cortex - The outer layer of the brain that is involved in sophisticated function, including sensation, voluntary muscle movement, reasoning, and memory.

CHADD - Children and Adults With Attention Deficit Disorder (www.CHADD.org). According to CHADD, it is an organization that provides resources and encouragement to parents, educators, and professionals for individuals with ADHD.

Channel - A method of how data or communication travels. It includes the mode of receiving a message as well as that of sending a message (eg, the Auditory-Vocal Channel).

Child Psychiatrist - A medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders in infants, children, and adolescents. Can prescribe medication as treatment.

Child Study Committee - A school-organized committee designed to act upon referrals of students who may be handicapped. This group may include a school psychologist, guidance counselor, principal, teachers, and other professionals as needed.

Childhood Depression - A childhood psychiatric disorder marked by feelings of extraordinary sadness; difficulty concentrating, eating, and sleeping, as well as helplessness; a bleak outlook on life; and a preoccupation with death. See also Depression.

Clinical Psychologist - A person trained and educated to perform psychological research, testing, and therapy. Engages in intellectual assessment and addresses issues relating to an individual's mental and emotional health.

CNS - See Central Nervous System.

CNS Stimulants - A group of medications that stimulate the Central Nervous System.

Comorbid - The presence of a coexisting or additional disease (eg, one may have ADHD and anxiety disorder).

Coaching - The act of providing support, encouragement, and help in daily living skills.

Cognition - The practice of knowing, including awareness and judgment.

Cognitive Ability - One's intellectual ability or thinking and reasoning skills.

Cognitive Style - An individual's unique approach to learning activities and problem solving (for example, some people carefully analyze each task, deciding what must be done and in what order, whereas others react impulsively to situations).

Compensation - Behavior that develops to counterbalance a lack of something, whether real or imaginary. See also Remediation.

Compulsive Disorder - Obsessive compulsive disorder. See Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Conceptual Disorder - Difficulty in mental and cognitive processes, such as thinking, reasoning, generalizing, and memorizing.

Conceptualization - The process of forming a general idea from what is observed (for example, the act of seeing dogs, cats, and birds, and recognizing that they are all animals).

Conduct Disorder - Behavior or actions that violate or infringe upon the rights of others (eg, violent behavior, verbal attacks, or destruction of property).

Congenital - A condition that one is born with, resulting from hereditary or environmental influences.

Cooperative Learning - An environment structured such that a child can work within a group on a project.

Coordination - Synchronous movement between muscles or joints.

Criterion Referenced Test - A measurement of achievement of specific criteria or skills in terms of absolute levels of mastery. The focus is on performance of an individual as measured against a standard or criteria rather than against performance of others who take the same test, as with norm-referenced tests.

Critical Thinking Skills - The ability to use logic and reasoning in problem solving.

D
Defiance - Acting out against something or someone. Opposing authority.

Depression - A psychiatric disorder marked by feelings of extraordinary sadness; difficulty concentrating, eating, and sleeping, as well as helplessness; a bleak outlook on life; and a preoccupation with death. See also Childhood Depression.

Development - Cognitive, emotional, or physical growth.

Development Disorders - Any severe and chronic disabilities that stem from mental and/or physical impairment.

Directionality - The ability to distinguish right from left, up from down, forward from backward, and direction and orientation.

Discrepancy - Split between facts. Difference between two things, as in accounts of events or between action and belief.

Discrimination - The ability to tell the difference between things, to distinguish.

Disinhibition - Unrestrained behavior resulting from a lessening or loss of inhibitions, or a disregard of cultural constraints. One who exhibits disinhibition reacts impulsively and often inappropriately.

Distractibility - The propensity toward losing focus.

Divergent Thinking - Unique and creative thinking to find solutions.

Dopamine - A neurotransmitter manufactured by the brain, it is key to the central nervous system's functionality. A chemical in the brain thought to be affected by ADHD.

DSM-IV - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4^th edition. Diagnostic manual by which physicians evaluate mental disorders.

Due Process - The administration of justice according to established rules and principles, based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards. When applied to children with learning disabilities, due process means that parents have the right to request a full review of any educational program developed for their child.

Dysarthria - A disorder marked by difficulty in articulating words and caused by damage to the muscles commonly used when speaking.

Dyscalculia - Impairment to the ability to perform mathematical functions. A child with dyscalculia may be able to read and write but have difficulty in performing mathematical calculations.

Dysfunction - Abnormal or impaired functioning, especially of a bodily system or social group.

Dysgraphia - Difficulty writing, usually caused by brain dysfunction or disease.

Dyslexia - A developmental reading disorder characterized by difficulty recognizing written words. Often those with dyslexia see printed text blurred, inverted, transposed, or otherwise incorrectly.

Dysnomia - According to the U.S. Department of Education, a marked difficulty in remembering names or recalling words needed for oral or written language.

Dyspraxia - Weakened function of an organ.

E
Early Intervention Program - A program designed to help developmentally delayed infants and preschool children, and to prevent problems as they get older.

Educational Evaluation - An evaluation used to assess whether a child is handicapped.

Educational Psychologist - One who performs psychological research, testing, and therapy, and consults with parents regarding educational issues.

EEG - See Electroencephalogram.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) - A graphic record of the electrical activity of the brain as recorded by an electroencephalograph. Also referred to as an encephalogram.

Emotional Disturbance - Describes patients exhibiting symptoms of behavior disorders. Social withdrawal or aggression can result.

Encoding - To put something into code, as in expressing language (i.e., selecting words; formulating them into ideas; producing them through speaking or writing).

Enuresis - Involuntary urination.

Etiology - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), causal association of a disease with an agent. The study of the cause of diseases.

F
FDA - Food and Drug Administration.

Figure-Ground Discrimination - The ability to discriminate important information from a surrounding environment. For example, hearing a teacher's voice despite other classroom noises (air conditioners, heaters, etc.) or seeing a word among others on a crowded page.

Fine Motor Skill - The use of small muscles for such precision activities as writing, tying shoelaces, and typing.

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) - This federal law mandates that all disabled children receive a free appropriate public education. This means that a disabled child has the right to special education and like services, provided by his or her school district at no cost to his or her parents.

G
Generalized Anxiety Disorder - An anxiety disorder characterized by anxiety and symptoms including perspiration, nervousness, wooziness, etc.

Gross Motor Skill - The use of large muscles for activities requiring strength and balance.

H
Handicapped - A general term used for mental or physical impairment.

Home Schooling - Providing primary education in the home environment. This type of schooling has increasingly become an alternative to classroom education, and can be a possibility if educational needs are not being met at school.

Hyperactivity - Excessively active. A hyperactive child usually has difficulty sticking to one task for an extended period and may react more intensely to a situation than a normal child. See also Hyperkinesis.

Hyperkinesis - Frenetic. A hyperkinetic child usually has difficulty sticking to one task for an extended period and may react more intensely to a situation than a normal child. See also Hyperactivity.

Hypersensitivity - Highly or excessively sensitive. Some individuals with ADHD report a heightened sensory awareness. This may include being highly sensitive to touch, smell, and other sensory stimuli. See also Tactile Defensiveness.

Hypnosis - A deepened state of consciousness in which one may be more vulnerable to suggestibility and receptive to instruction.

Hypoactivity - Extreme underactivity. Opposite of hyperactivity.

Hypomania - A stage of the manic-depressive cycle, characterized by mild mania.

I
IDEA - Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (1997). Legislation that provides special education for certain categories of disabilities.

Impulsivity - The propensity toward acting upon an urge as opposed to rational thought.

Inattention - Lack of concentration or awareness. Inattention is a key symptom of ADHD.

Inclusion - The act of including or placing students in regular classrooms regardless of their abilities for social concerns.

Independent Study - An environment or curriculum in which a student may teach himself or herself a subject, using his or her own resources. Independent Study is usually based on the student's own desire and motivation to learn a subject.

Individualized Education Plan (IEP) - According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), by law, public schools are required to prepare and carry out a set of specific instructional goals for every child in a special education program. The goals are stated as specific skills that the child will be taught to perform. The list of skills make up what is known as an "IEP"—the child's Individualized Educational Program. The IEP serves as an agreement between the school and the family on the educational goals. Because parents know their child best, they play an important role in creating this plan. They work closely with the school staff to identify which skills the child needs most.

Insertions - The addition of letters or numbers that do not belong in a word or numeral. For example, "sinceare" for "sincere."

Integrity - Wholeness; the state of being undivided.

Intelligence - The ability to gain and, in turn, apply know-how. The application of learned skill.

Intelligence Test - A test built to show what an individual has the potential to learn. In contrast to Achievement Tests.

Inversions - The confusion of up/down directionality of letters or numbers in reading, spelling, or math. For example, "m" for "w," "6" for "9," etc.

IQ - Intelligence quotient. A test that measures mental age to real age expressed as a quotient that is multiplied by 100. No longer commonly used.

K
Kinesthetic Method - Teaching words through use of the muscles (eg, tracing the outline of a word with a finger while looking at it and uttering the word or its letters).

Kinesthetic - The sense that perceives movement.

L
Language Disorders - According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), any of a number of problems with verbal communication and the ability to use or understand a symbol system for communication.

Laterality - The use of one side of the body over the other. For example, many people use their right hand when eating and their right foot when kicking.

LD - Learning disabled. See Learning disability(ies).

Learning Disability(ies) - According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), childhood disorders characterized by difficulty with certain skills such as reading or writing in individuals with normal intelligence.

Learning Disorder - Any of various cognitive, neurological, or psychological disorders that impede the ability to learn, especially one that interferes with the ability to learn mathematics or develop language skills. See also Learning Disability(ies).

Learning Style - According to the U.S. Department of Education, approaches to assessment or instruction emphasizing the variations in temperament, attitude, and preferred manner of tackling a task. Typically considered are styles along the active/passive, reflective/impulsive, or verbal/spatial dimensions.

M
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - A noninvasive procedure whereby extremely powerful magnets are used to produce images of the body, particularly effective in showing the body's cells, tissues and organs.

Mania - Characteristic of Bipolar Disorder, defined by insomnia, hypersexuality, rapid alternation between happiness and touchiness, and scattered thought patterns.

Mainstreaming - Placement of a handicapped child with special educational needs into a regular classroom.

Minimal Brain Dysfunction (MBD) - According to the U.S. Department of Education, a medical and psychological term originally used to refer to the learning difficulties that seemed to result from identified or presumed damage to the brain. Reflects a medical, rather than educational or vocational orientation.

Mixed Laterality (Lateral Confusion) - Alternating preference in using one's right or left side over the other. For example, many people use their right hand when eating and their left foot when kicking. See also Laterality.

Modified Self-Contained - Closely approximates the self-contained class. However, students receive instruction from a regular education teacher for some part of the school day.

Motor - Relating to muscle movement. See also Fine Motor and Gross Motor.

Multi-Categorical - A model of assigning a student with more than one handicap to a special education teacher.

Multimodal Treatment - An effective method of managing symptoms of ADHD that involves a combination of medication, behavioral management, and counseling.

Multisensory - Refers to using multiple senses.

N
NAMI - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. According to the NAMI, it is a "nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders."

Negative Consequence - A negative outcome of a behavior.

Neurologist - A medical specialist who treats disorders of the nervous system and brain.

Neuropsychologist - A psychologist who deals with the relationship between the nervous system, especially the brain, and cerebral or mental functions such as language, memory, and perception.

Neurosis - A term used to refer to any number of mental and/or emotional disorders.

NICHCY - National Information Center for Children and Youth With Disabilities. According to NICHCY, it is "the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals."

NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health. According to the NIMH, it is the "government agency whose aim is to address the needs and issues related to mental illness through research."

Noncategorical - Refers to grouping handicapped children together without any indication of preference due to a particular category.

Normal - Standard. Used to refer to what is considered typical.

O
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an anxiety disorder in which the individual becomes trapped in a pattern of repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are senseless and distressing but extremely difficult to overcome. Degree may vary from mild to severe; if severe and left untreated, it can destroy a person's capacity to function at work, at school, or even in the home.

Occupational Therapist - One who treats or rehabilitates physically or emotionally disabled people in order to improve ability to perform tasks for independent living.

Occupational Therapy - The rehabilitation of disabled persons through creativity.

Off Task - Used to describe when a student is distracted and not keeping on the task at hand.

Ombudsman - A mediator who investigates complaints and determines fair settlements between parties.

On Task - Used to describe when a student continues focus on a given lesson.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder - Typically occurring in childhood, a behavior characterized by defiance of authority, violent behavior, or verbal attacks.

OSEP - Office of Special Education Programs.

OSERS - Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

P
Panic Disorder - A psychological disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks and usually resulting in the development of one or more phobias, such as agoraphobia. It may or may not be associated with a specific situational trigger.

PDR - Physicians' Desk Reference. A publication which compiles prescribing information, including dosage, on prescription medications.

Pediatrician - A medical doctor who specializes in the care and treatment of infants, children, and adolescents; trained in overall growth and development of these individuals and their motor, sensory, and behavioral development.

Perceptual Abilities - Controlled by the brain, the abilities to use one's five senses and sort, disseminate, and process the information gathered by them.

Perceptual Handicap - According to the U.S. Department of Education, difficulty in accurately processing, organizing, and discriminating among visual, auditory, or tactile information. A person with a perceptual handicap may say that "cap/cup" sound the same or that "b" and "d" look the same. However, glasses or hearing aids do not necessarily indicate a perceptual handicap.

Perseveration - Repetition of a particular behavior, gesture, sound, or word that one is not able to control despite the lack of a stimulus. Can be a result of brain damage.

Program Specialist - An individual with experience and training in working with those who either have a disability or who work with someone with one. Provides consultation, training, and aids in improving programs in place for disable persons.

Psychiatrist - A medical doctor who treats behavioral or emotional problems. Is permitted to prescribe and use medications in treating a problem.

Psychologist - A mental healthcare professional with an advanced, non-medical degree (Ph.D.) who is trained to provide therapy, psychological research, and testing.

Psychomotor - Relating to the muscles associated with mental performance.

Psychopharmacology - The segment of pharmacology associated with the advancement of psychoactive medication.

Psychotherapy - The treatment of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional disorders with traditional psychological techniques; focuses primarily on verbal and nonverbal communication as a method for resolution.

Public Law (P.L.) 94-142 - According to the California Department of Education (CDE), the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 mandated a free appropriate public education for all children with disabilities, ensured due process rights, mandated Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and Law Related Education (LRE), and became the core of federal funding for special education. In addition, according the U.S. Department of Education, Public Law 94-142 clearly defined the rights of children with handicaps and their parents. A fundamental provision of the law is the right of parents to participate in the educational decision-making process.

R
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - The Civil Rights Act for the Handicapped, which is designed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of handicap in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Remediation - The process of correcting a shortcoming or bad habit/behavior.

Resource Program - According to the U.S. Department of Education, a program model in which a student with LD is in a regular classroom for most of each day, but also receives regularly scheduled individual services in a specialized LD resource classroom.

S
Section 504 - A law governed by the Office of Civil Rights stating that schools or other federally funded offices cannot discriminate based on handicap or disorder.

Self-Concept - How one perceives oneself.

Self-Advocacy - The act of providing advocacy for oneself.

Sensorimotor (Sensor-Motor) - A coordination of sensory perception and motor skills.

Sequence - A succession of things one after another.

SLD (Specific Learning Disability) - According to the U.S. Department of Education, the official term used in federal legislation to refer to difficulty in certain areas of learning, rather than in all areas of learning. Also referred to as Learning Disabilities.

Socio-Cultural - The combination of social and cultural factors as they affect the development of a child in all areas of life.

Specific Language Disability (SLD) - According to the U.S. Department of Education, a severe difficulty in some aspect of listening, speaking, reading, writing, or spelling, while skills in the other areas are age-appropriate. Also referred to as Specific Language Learning Disability (SLLD).

Speech Disorders - According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), any defect or abnormality that prevents an individual from communicating by means of spoken words. Speech disorders may develop from nerve injury to the brain, muscular paralysis, structural defects, hysteria, or mental retardation.

SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) - A type of antidepressant.

Stutter - Speaking with repeated, broken, and hesitant sounds. Such speech is characterized by abnormal hesitations, prolongations, and repetitions that are developmentally inappropriate for the age or mental ability of the speaker.

Substitution - Interchanging a given letter, number, or word for another, as in reading, spelling, or math, (eg, "sereal" for "cereal").

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), SSI is a Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes). It is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people who have little or no income, and it provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

Support Group - A group of people with like conditions or problems who offer support and guidance to one another. Can be led by a therapist.

Survival Skills - Essential skills needed for a student to cope with and survive in everyday society.

Syndrome - A compilation of symptoms that characterize a disease or condition.

Syntax - The rules of grammar. Used to refer to one's verbal or written language.

T
Tactile - Relating to touch.

Tactile Defensiveness - A heightened awareness of the senses.

Tourette's Syndrome - A syndrome characterized by uncontrollable and involuntary body movements (tics) and vocal sounds.

TOVA (Test of Variables of Attention) - One of the commonly used tests to measure attentiveness when attempting to diagnose ADHD.

Transposition - A change of the natural order of words in a sentence. In reading, spelling, or math, confusion of the order of letters in a word or numbers in a numeral (eg, "sliver" for "silver," "432" for "423," etc.).

Twice Special - Used to describe children that are gifted and handicapped (eg, gifted and ADHD).

U
Underachievement - Doing poorer or accomplishing less than anticipated.

V
Verbal Ability - Generally refers to oral or spoken language abilities.