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Glossary

Glossary of Disability Terms

Ability Level:
the estimated level of a person's academic potential. May also be used or referred to as IQ (Intelligence Quotient) or aptitude (i.e. one's capability to learn or succeed in an academic setting).
Accessible:
In the case of a facility, readily usable by a particular individual; in the case of a program or activity, presented or provided in such a way that a particular individual can participate, with or without auxiliary aid(s); in the case of electronic resources, accessible with or without adaptive computer technology.
Access Barriers:
Any obstruction that prevents people with disabilities from using standard facilities, equipment and resources.
Accessible Web Design:
Creating World Wide Web pages according to universal design principles to eliminate or reduce barriers, including those that affect people with disabilities.
Accommodation:
(best practices definition; also called adaptations or strategies) refers to a change in presentation, response format, environmental setting, or length of time needed to complete a task. This change does not alter the scoring or purpose of the task. Many accommodations are used every day on a regular basis in the classroom or workplace. Many teachers consider it to be good teaching strategies.
(legal definition) any change to a classroom or work environment or task that permits an individual with a documented disability to participate in the classroom or work process, to perform the essential tasks of the class or workplace, or to enjoy benefits and privileges of classroom/workplace participation equal to those enjoyed by learners without disabilities.
Achievement Level
the academic skills attained in reading, mathematics, and written expression. Achievement level is identified by formal standardized achievement tests or informal criterion referenced tests to identify specific mastery of skills.
Adaptive Technology:
Hardware or software products that provide access to a computer that is otherwise inaccessible to an individual with a disability.
Alternative Keyboard:
A keyboard that is different from a standard computer keyboard in its size or layout of keys.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. It applies to employers, public services, public access, communication providers, and transportation providers regardless of whether or not they receive or benefit from federal funding.
Assistive Technology:
Technology used to assist a person with a disability, e.g., wheelchair, handsplints, computer-based equipment.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD):
a neurobiological disorder that is diagnosed by qualified professionals (typically licensed psychologists and medical physicians) and manifests itself by specific behavior traits, which may include inattention (distractibility), impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity present in a variety of settings.
Auditory Processing Deficit
auditory processing is the ability to interpret and understand information that is presented orally. Can they remember what they hear? Do they understand what they hear? A deficit is present if this ability significantly interferes with one's ability to function effectively, despite normal hearing.
Braille:
System of embossed characters formed by using a Braille cell, a combination of six dots consisting of two vertical columns of three dots each. Each simple Braille character is formed by one or more of these dots and occupies a full cell or space. Some Braille may use eight dots.
Browser:
Software designed to access and display information available on the World Wide Web. Browsers may be graphical or text-based. Text-only browsers cannot display images, sound clips, video and plug-in features that graphical browsers can. Talking browsers are also available for use by people who have difficulty reading text due to a learning disability or visual impairment.
Captioning:
Text that is included with video presentations or broadcasts that enables people with hearing impairments to have access to the audio portion of the material.
Closed Circuit TV Magnifier (CCTV):
Camera used to magnify books or other materials to a monitor or television.
Communication Device:
Hardware that allows a person who has difficulty using their voice clearly to use words or symbols for communication. May range in complexity from a simple picture board to complex electronic devices that allow personalized, unique construction of ideas.
Compensatory Tools:
Adaptive computing systems that allow people with disabilities to use computers to complete tasks that they would have difficulty doing without a computer, e.g., reading, writing, communicating, accessing information.
Disability:
Physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).
Discrimination:
Act of making a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit.
Dyscalculia:
a learning disability in math (computation, word problems, reasoning).
Dysgraphia
a learning disability in writing (punctuation, capitalization, usage, writing proper sentences, and/or paragraphs).
Dyslexia :
a learning disability in reading (decoding, comprehension, and fluency).
FM Sound Amplification System
Electronic amplification system consisting of three components: a microphone/transmitter, monaural FM receiver and a combination charger/carrying case. It provides wireless FM broadcast from a speaker to a listener who has a hearing impairment.
Educational or Academic Evaluation
a process of gathering information for the identification of specific strengths and weaknesses so that an appropriate instructional program can be planned for a student. An evaluation is also referred to as an Assessment.
Hearing impairments:
Complete or partial loss of ability to hear caused by a variety of injuries or diseases including congenital defects.
IEP:
Individual Educational Plan is a written legal document for a student with a documented disability that outlines a specially designed program developed by a team. The plan includes the student's needs, goals, measurable objectives, accommodations, present levels of performance, and level of service.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):
a federal law requiring public schools to make available to all eligible children with disabilities a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment to meet their needs.
Information Processing:
the procedure the brain uses to receive, store, recall, and retrieve information. The brain takes in and manages information through different modalities. The modalities are tactile (touch), kinesthetic (movement), auditory (hearing), and visual (sight).
Interpreter:
Professional person who assists a deaf person in communicating with hearing people.
Irlen Syndrome
(initially called Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome.)A problem with the brain's ability to process visual information. Individuals with Irlen Syndrome seem to see words that are blurry, have patterns or appear to move on the page. As the individual continues to read, the problem seems to worsen. Colored overlays and filters are used to help individuals with Irlen Syndrome.
Large Print Books:
Most ordinary print is six to ten points in height (about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch). Large type is 14 to 18 points (about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch) and sometimes larger. The format of large print books is also proportionately larger (usually 8 1/2 x 11 inches).
Learning Disability (LD):
a life-long neurobiological disorder which causes a person to have trouble storing, processing and producing information because the brain functions differently.
Mainstreaming, Inclusion:
The inclusion of people with disabilities, with or without special accommodations, in programs, activities, and facilities with their non-disabled peers.
Major Life Activities:
Functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, and participating in community activities (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).
Mobility impairment:
Disability that affects movement ranging from gross motor skills such as walking to fine motor movement involving manipulation of objects by hand.
Modification
a change in the format of a test or assignment so that it no longer measures the original level or purpose of the task or test. It may involve content or level changes.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR):
Technology system that scans and converts printed materials into electronic text.
Peripheral Neuropathy:
A condition caused by damage to the nerves in the peripheral nervous system which includes nerves that run from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.
Physical or Mental Impairment:
Any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems: neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genito-urinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).
Qualified Iindividual with a dDsability:
An individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable modification to rules, policies, or practices, the removal of architectural, communication, or transportation barriers, or the provision of auxiliary aids and services, meets the essential eligibility requirements for the receipt of services or the participation in programs or activities provided by a public entity (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990).
Reader:
Volunteer or employee of an individual with a disability (e.g., visual impairment, learning disability) who reads printed material in person or records to audio-tape.
Reading System:
Hardware and software designed to provide access to printed text for people with visual impairments, mobility impairments, or learning disabilities. Character recognition software controls a scanner that takes an image of a printed page, converts it to computer text using recognition software and then reads the text using a synthesized voice.
Screen reader:
Software used to echo text on a computer screen to audio output, often used by people who are blind, with visual impairments, or with learning disabilities.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973:
a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors.
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act:
Legislation that requires Federal Agencies to develop, procure, and use accessible electronic and information technology.
Sensory impairment:
A disability that affects touch, sight and/or hearing.
Sign language:
Manual communication commonly used by deaf. The gestures or symbols in sign language are organized in a linguistic way. Each individual gesture is called a sign. Each sign has three distinct parts; the handshape, the position of the hands, and the movement of the hands. American Sign Language (ASL) is the most commonly used sign language in the United States. Deaf people from different countries speak different sign languages.
Special Educational Services:
classroom or private instruction involving techniques, exercises, and subject matter designed for students whose learning needs cannot be met by a standard school curriculum. Schools have established criteria and procedures to qualify students to Special Educational Services.
Specific Learning Disability:
Disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which may manifest itself in difficulties listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing, spelling, or doing mathematical calculations. Frequent limitations include hyperactivity, distractibility, emotional instability, visual and/or auditory perception difficulties and/or motor limitations, depending on the type(s) of learning disability.
Speech Impairment:
Problems in communication and related areas such as oral motor function, ranging from simple sound substitutions to the inability to understand or use language or use the oral-motor mechanism for functional speech.
Speech Recognition Software:
A method of controlling a computer and creating text by dictation. Speech input software is combined with a microphone.
Standardized Tests:
instruments designed to be administered, scored, and interpreted in the same way no matter when, where, or by whom it is administered. The sample group (or norm) from which the scoring standards are derived is carefully selected to represent the population.
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) or Teletypewriter (TTY):
A device which enables someone who has a speech or hearing impairment to use a telephone when communicating with someone else who has a TDD/TTY. TDD/TTYs can be used with any telephone, and one needs only a basic typing ability to use them.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI):
Open and closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, including cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. The term does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma.
Universal Design:
Designing programs, services, tools, and facilities so that they are usable, without modification, by the widest range of users possible, taking into account a variety of abilities and disabilities.
Universal Design of Instruction:
The design of instructional materials and activities that make learning achievable by students with a wide variety of abilities and disabilities.
Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973:
Act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability which applies to any program that receives federal financial support. Section 504 of the Act is aimed at making educational programs and facilities accessible to all students. Section 508 of the Act requires that electronic office equipment purchased through federal procurement meets disability access guidelines.
Vision impairments:
Complete or partial loss of ability to see, caused by a variety of injuries or diseases including congenital defects. Legal blindness is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses, or widest diameter of visual field subtending an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees.
Visual Processing Deficit
visual processing involves how well a person can see visual information. Can they visualize things in their head? Can they remember what they see? Can they discriminate shapes and distinguish figure from background?
Word prediction:
Software that reduces the number of keystrokes needed to type words and sentences. As characters are entered on either a standard, alternative or virtual keyboard, suggested completions of the word that has been started are provided to the user.