Disability-Related Glossary of Terms
This glossary was created to provide the general user with basic definitions of different types of disabilities and other related terms.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Select the first letter of the word from the list above to jump to appropriate section of the glossary.
- A -
- AIDS
- AIDS, or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, is a disease caused by a virus that
destroys a person's immune system. The AIDS virus, known as HIV (Human
Immunodeficiency Virus), severely weakens the immune system causing a person to be highly
susceptible to a variety of infections. These infections may not normally be considered
serious, but could become life-threatening to a person with AIDS.
- Americans with Disabilities Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against individuals
with disabilities. It mandates equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in areas
such as employment, public accommodations, transportation, state and local government
services, and telecommunications.
- Assistive Technology
- Assistive technology is any item or piece of equipment used to
maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.
- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Attention deficit disorder, commonly referred to as ADD, is a neurological disability
characterized by inappropriate attention skills, impulsive behavior, and in some cases,
hyperactivity. ADD is marked by
chronic behaviors that last at least six months and appear before age seven. The behaviors
may include: fidgeting, difficulty remaining seated, difficulty following instructions,
leaving tasks uncompleted, and appearing not to listen when others are speaking.
- Augmentative Communication
- Augmentative communication refers to the supplementation or replacement of speech through
the use of aided or unaided techniques. Sign language, gestures, and fingerspelling are
examples of unaided communication, whereas aided communication is associated with technology.
An example of aided communication would be a computer-based system that supports verbal
and written communication.
- Autism
- Autism is a developmental disability that appears before age three. It is characterized by
qualitative differences in the areas of social competence and communication skills.
Individuals with autism typically demonstrate a narrow range of interests, repeatedly engage
in specific activities, and experience difficulties processing sensory input from the
surrounding environment. Common behaviors include: a tendency to avoid social contact,
a tendency to become upset by changes in routine, and an inability to effectively communicate.
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- B -
- Behavior Disorders
- Behavior disorders refer to a complex set of behavioral and emotional problems that are
exhibited by children. Children with these disorders often engage in antisocial behavior.
They are often physically and verbally aggressive and may lie, steal, perform vandalism,
or "act out" in other ways. Children with behavior disorders may also experience
depression. If these disorders are not treated early in life the individual may continue
to exhibit antisocial behavior into adulthood.
- Birth Defects
- The term, birth defect, refers to any anomaly, functional or structural that is caused
before birth. A birth defect may be inherited or acquired and may be present in infancy or
become apparent later in life.
- Blind
- A person's vision is evaluated by visual acuity (20/20 scale) and
the range of peripheral vision. Normal vision is defined as 20/20 visual acuity and an
average range of 180 degrees in peripheral vision. An individual is legally blind if after
methods of correction, such as glasses or contact lenses, he/she has a visual acuity of
20/200 or higher denomination or a range of peripheral vision under 20 degrees.
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- C -
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebral palsy is a functional disorder caused by damage to the
brain during pregnancy, delivery, or shortly after birth. It is characterized by movement
disorders, such as: spasticity (tight limb muscles), purposeless movements, rigidity
(severe form of spacticity), a lack of balance, or a combination of these disorders.
Individuals with cerebral palsy may also experience seizures,
abnormal speech, hearing and visual impairments, and mental
retardation.
- Cleft Palate
- A cleft palate is a birth defect
characterized by a split or opening in the roof of the mouth. It results from failure of
the parts of the roof of the mouth to join together during pregnancy. Cleft palates may be
caused by genetic or environmental factors.
- Closed Captioning
- Closed captioning allows individuals who are deaf or have limited
hearing to view television and understand what is being said. The words spoken on the
television are written across the bottom of the screen so the person can follow the
dialogue and action of the program.
- Communication Disabilities
- Communication disabilities include any visual,
hearing, or speech
impairments that limit a person's ability to communicate.
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- D -
- Deaf-Blindness
- Deaf-blindness, or dual sensory impairment, is a combination of
both visual and hearing
impairments. An individual with deaf-blindness can experience severe communication,
educational, and other developmental problems. A person with deaf-blindness cannot be
accommodated by services focusing solely on visual impairments or solely on hearing
impairments, so services must be specifically designed to assist individuals with
deaf-blindness.
- Deafness
- Deafness can be defined as a total or partial inability to hear.
An individual who is totally deaf is unable to hear with or without the use of a hearing
aid, whereas a person who is partially deaf may be able to hear with the help of a hearing
aid. Deafness can be genetic or also acquired through disease, most commonly from
meningitis in the child or rubella in the woman during pregnancy.
- Descriptive Video
- Descriptive videos are designed for people who are visually impaired. The videos provide additional narration
which carefully describes the visual elements of the film, such as the action of the
characters, locations, and costumes, without interfering with the actual dialogue and
sound effects.
- Developmental Delays
- Developmental delays refer to conditions which represent a
significant delay in the process of child development. The delays may involve cognitive,
physical, communicative, social/emotional, and adaptive areas of development. Without
special intervention, these delays may affect the educational performance of the child.
- Developmental Disabilities
- A developmental disability is a severe and long lasting disability
which is the result of a mental and/or physical impairment, occurs before age 22, is
likely to continue indefinitely, reflects the person's need for specialized services
and/or treatment, and results in substantial functional limitations in three or more
areas. The areas include: self-care, self-direction, economic self-sufficiency,
independent living, learning, receptive and expressive language, and mobility.
- Disability
- A disability is basically defined as a mental or physical
condition that restricts an individual's ability to engage in substantial gainful
activity.
- Down Syndrome
- Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition (trisomy 21) caused by
the presence of one extra chromosome. Individuals with Down syndrome experience slow
physical and mental development and often exhibit certain identifiable physical
characteristics, such as a round face, slanting eyes, and a small stature. People with
Down syndrome usually function in the mild to moderate range of mental retardation and may experience health problems, most
commonly hearing impairments and congenital heart
disease.
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- E -
- Early Intervention
- Early intervention is an attempt to locate, identify, and evaluate
young children with developmental disabilities
or developmental delays and provide services to
counteract these disorders and facilitate the child's development. Every state has
organizations that provide early intervention services.
- Echolalia
- Echolalia is the constant repeating or parroting of what has been
said by others. Individuals with autism and Tourette syndrome commonly exhibit echolalia.
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy is a physical condition that occurs when there is a
sudden, brief disturbance in the function of the brain. This "disturbance" can
alter an individual's consciousness, movements, or actions. The sudden change is referred
to as an epileptic seizure. Most individuals with epilepsy can reduce or eliminate the
risk of seizures through the regular use of appropriate medication.
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- F -
- Fetal Alcohol Effects
- The term, fetal alcohol effects, is used to indicate alcohol as a
possible cause of a child's birth defects. It is used to
describe children with prenatal exposure to alcohol, but with only a few of the
characteristics shown by children with fetal alcohol
syndrome.
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Fetal alcohol syndrome refers to a group of symptoms exhibited by
a child resulting from the mother's consumption of alcohol during pregnancy. The symptoms
may include differing levels of mental retardation, low
birth weight, small size, and under development of the upper lip. (see cleft palate)
- Fragile X Syndrome
- Fragile X syndrome, also known as Martin-Bell syndrome, is a
genetic disorder that is the most common form of inherited mental
retardation. Individuals with this disorder often have distinctive physical features,
such as a long face and large prominent ears. People with Fragile X syndrome experience
some degree of mental retardation along with speech and language delays. In addition,
15-20% may also exhibit behaviors associated with autism.
- Free Appropriate Public Education
- According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
(IDEA), free appropriate public education is defined as special education and related
services that: (1) are provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction,
and without charge; (2) meet the standards of the state educational agency; (3) include
preschool, elementary, and secondary school education in the state involved; and (4) are
provided in conformity with the child's individualized education program.
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- G -
- Genetics
- Genetics is the study of heredity, and in particular, genes. Human
genetics attempts to understand human heredity in order to predict, diagnose, and treat
genetic diseases.
- Group Homes
- Group homes are a housing option for individuals with developmental disabilities that allows them to live
in residences within the community in a family-type setting. A small group of individuals
with disabilities live together in a house and share household duties. The group home is
usually supervised by live-in professionals or volunteer staff.
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- H -
- Health Impairments
- The term, health impairment, refers to any type of chronic illness
that affects how a person lives his or her life. Common examples of health impairments are
AIDS, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, etc.
- Hearing Impairment
- The term, hearing impairment, is used to describe any level of
hearing loss, such as hard of hearing or deafness.
- HIV
- HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is the virus that causes AIDS. HIV is most commonly transmitted through sexual contact and
intravenous drug use. A person may carry HIV for several years before any symptoms of AIDS
become apparent.
- Hydrocephalus
- Hydrocephalus refers to an abnormal accumulation of fluid
(cerebrospinal fluid) within cavities, called ventricles, inside the brain. Hydrocephalus
can be congenital, caused by complex genetic and environmental factors, or acquired from spina bifida, intraventricular hemorrhage, head trauma,
meningitis, tumors and cysts. Individuals with hydrocephalus often experience mental and
physical impairments and a variety of health problems.
- Hyperactivity
- Hyperactivity generally refers to a group of behavioral
characteristics, such as aggressiveness, constant activity, impulsiveness, and
distractibility. The actual behaviors displayed include: fidgeting, an inability to remain
seated or still, excessive talking, and an inability to play quietly. Hyperactivity is
commonly associated with attention deficit disorder.
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- I -
- Inclusion
- In general, inclusion refers to a set of practices and beliefs
that all children should be educated, regardless of disability, in their neighborhood
school, and in age appropriate general education settings with appropriate supports and
services.
- Independent Living
- The concept of independent living involves the belief that
individuals with disabilities have the same rights and responsibilities as other people in
society. Thus, services provided to the public should be accessible to persons with
disabilities, and systems of support should be made available to help individuals with
disabilities live within the community and lead more independent lives.
- Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
- Public Law 94-142 mandates that each child who receives special
education services must have an individualized education plan. The IEP is the plan agreed
upon by the school administrator, teacher, parents, and other relevant professionals
(e.g., the person who administered the testing, therapists). The IEP is comprised of seven
parts: (1) present level of functioning or performance, (2) annual goals, (3) short term
instructional objectives or goals, (4) indication of any special services needed (e.g.,
speech & hearing clinic), (5) amount of time spent in regular education classroom, (6)
when plan will begin, be reviewed, and end, and (7) evaluation of goals and objectives.
- Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
- Public Law 99-457 directs states to develop and implement a
comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary program of early
intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.
The law requires that an Individualized Family Service Plan is created to establish an
agreement between families and professionals that the necessary resources will be provided
to help the child and the family achieve their goals and satisfy their needs.
- Individualized Program Plan (IPP)
- An Individualized Program Plan is similar to an Individualized
Family Service Plan except it is for individuals with disabilities who are over age
three. The IPP identifies the preferred goals or outcomes of the individual and his/her
family and lists objectives describing how these goals will be achieved (e.g., what
services and types of supports will be used).
- Individualized Transition Plan (ITP)
- The Individualized Transition Plan is the part of a person's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) that identifies the long range goals
of the person in respect to life after school. Transition services are a coordinated set
of activities that are designed to help a student with disabilities move from school to
life after school. The person's life after school may include: post secondary education,
vocational training, integrated employment, continuing and adult education, independent living, participation in the community, and
other activities. The ITP indicates how the individual will be supported or helped to
participate in his/her preferred activities and achieve his/her goals.
- Institutions
- Institutions are residential facilities designed to house and care
for individuals with mental disabilities.
- IQ Scores
- The intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a number used to express a
person's relative intelligence. An intelligence test is used to compute an individual's IQ
score. The majority of scores fall between 70 and 130, with a score above 130 considered
gifted and a score below 70 considered mentally deficient. However, intelligence tests
have been widely criticized for not accurately depicting an individual's mental
capabilities.
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- J -
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- K -
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- L -
- Learning Disabilities
- Learning disabilities is a broad term used to refer to disorders
that affect a person's ability to interpret what they see or hear and link information
from different parts of the brain. These disorders usually manifest as problems with
reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematics. Learning disabilities are neurological,
lifelong disorders, but can often be overcome through appropriate intervention and
support.
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- M -
- Mental Illness
- The term, mental illness, refers to any illness or disorder that:
has significant psychological or behavioral manifestations, is associated with painful or
distressing symptoms, and impairs an individual's level of functioning in certain areas of
life. There are several different types of mental illness with differing levels of
severity. The cause of mental illness is relatively unknown. Therapy and appropriate
medication are the most common forms of treatment.
- Mental Retardation
- Mental retardation is a mental disability that limits the
intellectual capacity of an individual. A person is considered to have mental retardation
if: they have an IQ below 70, the condition is present before age
18, and limitations exist in two or more adaptive skill areas. The adaptive skill areas
include: communication, self-care, home-living, social skills, leisure, health and safety,
self-direction, functional academics, and employment.
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- O -
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- P -
- Paraplegia
- Paraplegia is paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body.
Paraplegia often involves loss of sensation as well as loss of movement. It is usually
caused by injury or disease in the lower spinal cord, or brain disorders, such as cerebral palsy.
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- Q -
- Quadriplegia
- Quadriplegia is the paralysis of all four limbs. (see paraplegia)
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- S -
- Seizure Disorder
- (see epilepsy)
- Speech Impairments
- The term, speech impairment, refers to disorders that impair an
individual's ability to verbally communicate. This could include the inability to speak,
the inability to maintain a flow or rhythm of speech (e.g., dysfluency, or stuttering), or
the inability to pronounce certain sounds. Speech impairments can be caused by hearing impairments, neurological disorders, mental retardation, or physical impairments such as cleft palate.
- Spina Bifida
- Spina Bifida refers to an incomplete closure in the spinal column
during prenatal development. There are three types of spina bifida: (1) spina bifida
occulta is very common and is associated with an opening in one or more of the
vertebrae, but no damage to the spinal cord, (2) meningocele is present when the
protective covering around the spinal cord is pushed through an opening in the vertebrae,
but the spinal cord remains intact, (3) myelomeningocele is the most severe form
and occurs when the spinal cord protrudes through the back. The term, spina bifida, is
most often used to indicate the most severe form of the disorder, myelomeningocele.
It can cause weakness or paralysis below the area of protrusion as well as a loss of bowel
and bladder control. Also, spina bifida is commonly associated with hydrocephalus.
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- T -
- Tourette Syndrome
- Tourette syndrome is a genetic, neurological disorder
characterized by repetitious, involuntary body movements and uncontrollable vocal sounds.
Tourette syndrome is detected before age 18 and most commonly affects males. The majority
of individuals with Tourette syndrome experience mild symptoms that do not impede them
from performing their normal activities.
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- V -
- Visual Impairment
- A visual impairment is an impairment of sight that cannot be
corrected by glasses or contact lenses. This includes individuals with low vision as well
as people who are legally blind.
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- X -
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- Y -
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- Z -
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