Special Education: Definition and Purpose

Study Notes

Special education refers to the education of students with disabilities, disorders, or exceptionalities that require adapted or specialized instruction.
The purpose of special education is to provide students with the support and accommodations they need to access the curriculum and reach their full potential.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): a neurological disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors.
Speech or Language Impairment: difficulty with verbal or nonverbal communication, including speech, language, voice, and fluency.
Hearing Impairment: partial or total loss of hearing.
Visual Impairment: partial or total loss of vision.
Orthopedic Impairment: physical disability or impairment that affects movement, such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida.
Other Health Impairment: chronic health conditions that affect educational performance, such as ADHD, diabetes, or epilepsy.
Specific Learning Disability: difficulty with reading, writing, mathematics, or reasoning, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia.
Intellectual Disability: significant cognitive impairment that affects adaptive behaviors and daily living skills.
Multiple Disabilities: combination of two or more disabilities that require multiple accommodations.

Individualized Education Program (IEP): a tailored plan outlining goals, objectives, and accommodations for a student with a disability.
Accommodations: modifications or adjustments to the learning environment, instruction, or assessment to support student access and participation.
Assistive Technology: tools and devices that support student learning, such as text-to-speech software or communication devices.
Related Services: supplementary services that support student education, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, or counseling.

Special Education Teacher: trained to adapt instruction and provide accommodations for students with disabilities.
Speech-Language Pathologist: specializes in assessing and treating communication disorders.
Occupational Therapist: helps students develop skills for daily living and independence.
School Counselor: provides academic, social, and emotional support to students.
Paraprofessional: assists the special education teacher in providing support and accommodations.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): federal law ensuring education for students with disabilities.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in educational settings.

Special education is the education of students with disabilities, disorders, or exceptionalities that require adapted or specialized instruction.
The purpose of special education is to provide students with support and accommodations to access the curriculum and reach their full potential.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): characterized by difficulties with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors.
Speech or Language Impairment: difficulty with verbal or nonverbal communication, including speech, language, voice, and fluency.
Hearing Impairment: partial or total loss of hearing.
Visual Impairment: partial or total loss of vision.
Orthopedic Impairment: physical disability or impairment that affects movement, such as cerebral palsy or spina bifida.
Other Health Impairment: chronic health conditions that affect educational performance, such as ADHD, diabetes, or epilepsy.
Specific Learning Disability: difficulty with reading, writing, mathematics, or reasoning, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia.
Intellectual Disability: significant cognitive impairment that affects adaptive behaviors and daily living skills.
Multiple Disabilities: combination of two or more disabilities that require multiple accommodations.

Individualized Education Program (IEP): a tailored plan outlining goals, objectives, and accommodations for a student with a disability.
Accommodations: modifications or adjustments to the learning environment, instruction, or assessment to support student access and participation.
Assistive Technology: tools and devices that support student learning, such as text-to-speech software or communication devices.
Related Services: supplementary services that support student education, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, or counseling.

Special Education Teacher: trained to adapt instruction and provide accommodations for students with disabilities.
Speech-Language Pathologist: specializes in assessing and treating communication disorders.
Occupational Therapist: helps students develop skills for daily living and independence.
School Counselor: provides academic, social, and emotional support to students.
Paraprofessional: assists the special education teacher in providing support and accommodations.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): federal law ensuring education for students with disabilities.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in educational settings.