
Special Education Terms to Know: Part 2
So my post got so long I needed to break things up! Here is another installment of the terms, defined, for your reading pleasure!
IEP: Individual Education Plan is developed for children who qualify as a child with a disability under IDEA. If your child is needing academic goals or classroom modifications then your child will need an IEP versus a 504.

LRE: This stands for Least Restrictive Environment. This is another great term to know REALLY well! A child with a disability should be taught in the least restrictive environment. Often people will discuss inclusion but do not realize that IDEA does not mention ONE word about inclusion. It DOES discuss LRE!
(2)Assurance. If the State does not have policies and procedures to ensure compliance with paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the State must provide the Secretary an assurance that the State will revise the funding mechanism as soon as feasible to ensure that the mechanism does not result in placements that violate that paragraph.
Manifestation Hearing: Hopefully you will never have to face a Manifestation Hearing. When a child is placed on suspension for 10 days or more in a school year the law considers this to be a change in placement so a Manifestation Determination hearing must be conducted. The hearing will be used to determine if the child’s behavior issues are related to their disability or not. If it is determined that the child’s behavior IS the cause of the disciple issue then the school should be prompted to develop an FBA if they have not previously.
Modifications: The term “modification” may be used to describe a change in the curriculum. Modifications are made for students with disabilities who are unable to comprehend all of the content an instructor is teaching. For example, assignments might be reduced in number and modified significantly for an elementary school student with cognitive impairments that limit his/her ability to understand the content in general education class in which they are included.
OCR: The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is where you would file a complaint about discrimination or retaliation. As people oppose the discriminatory practices and participate in the OCR investigations as it is critical to make sure there is the right to an equal education opportunity in accordance with federal law. This is why recipients of federal funds are not allowed to intimidate, threaten, coerce, or discriminate against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by federal civil rights law. Once a student, parent, teacher, coach, or other individual complains formally or informally to a school about a potential civil rights violation or participates in an OCR investigation or proceeding, the recipient is prohibited from retaliating (including intimidating, threatening, coercing, or in any way discriminating against the individual) because of the individual’s complaint or participation.
Due to their expertise in activity and environmental analysis, practitioners are particularly skilled in facilitating student access to curricular and extracurricular activities. They focus on the students’ strengths and can design and implement programming to improve inclusion and accessibility, such as Universal Design for Learning. Additionally, they play a critical role in educating parents, educators, administrators and other staff members. They offer services along a continuum of prevention, promotion, and interventions and serve individual students, groups of students, whole classrooms, and whole school initiatives. They collaborate with the education team to support student success. In this way, occupational therapy practitioners can contribute to both general and special education. Occupational therapy practitioners have specific knowledge and expertise to increase participation in school routines throughout the day. Interventions include:
-
Conducting activity and environmental analysis and making recommendations to improve the fit for greater access, progress, and participation
-
Reducing barriers that limit student participation within the school environment
-
Providing assistive technology to support student success • Supporting the needs of students with significant challenges, such as by helping to determine methods for alternate educational assessment and learning
-
Helping to identify long-term goals for appropriate post-school outcomes
-
Helping to plan relevant instructional activities for ongoing implementation in the classroom
Please take the time to click on the links in the post as it contains the reference material used to write this post. As always, you are welcome to join us for more discussion on the jargon of special education at our FB group, IEP/504 Assistance for parents of public school students from all over the United States.
AESA also runs a special needs homeschool group, Homeschooling Special (Needs) Kids, and we also have a group for all parents and caregivers of special needs children called Special Needs Parenting Advice and Support where we discuss ALL things related to special needs care and Educating Gifted Children is where we discuss topics concerning gifted children and those that are twice exceptional (2e). I hope to see you there!
Parent Alliance for Students with Exceptional Students (PASEN) is meant purely for educational or medical discussion. It contains information about legal or medical matters; however, it is not professional legal or medical advice and should not be treated as such.
Limitation of warranties: The legal and medical information on this website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied. PASEN makes no representations or warranties in relation to the legal or medical information on the website.
Professional assistance: You must not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to legal or medical advice from your attorney or medical provider. If you have any specific questions about any legal or medical matter, you should consult your attorney or medical service provider.
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or tips. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read even more things about it!
All the terms that are defined also have links embedded in that section as hyperlinks. That is the reference material I used to write that section (definition). If you have more questions on a topic let me know. You can ask your questions in “The Park.” That is our new online community for paying members. 🙂
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch! “The capacity to care is what gives life its most deepest significance.” by Pablo Casals.
I am glad you found the article helpful and got a FREE lunch!
I am not certain the place you are getting your information, however great topic. I needs to spend a while learning more or working out more. Thank you for great information I was searching for this information for my mission.
Nice read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he just bought me lunch since I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.” by Oscar Fingall O’Flahertie Wills Wilde.
I respect your work, regards for all the great posts.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
My spouse and I stumbled over here coming from a different page and thought I should check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to looking over your web page again.
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog loading? I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog. Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
No one else has reported an issue.
As I website possessor I believe the content here is very good, regards for your efforts.
Thanks a lot for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also visit my web site =). We could have a link exchange contract between us!
Hey there excellent blog! Does running a blog such as this require a great deal of work?
I have no understanding of computer programming but I had been hoping to start my own blog in the near future.
Anyways, should you have any suggestions or techniques for new blog owners
please share. I understand this is off subject but I just needed to ask.
Many thanks!
I like it when people get together and share ideas. Great website, continue the good work!
This site really has all the information I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
We stumbled over here different web address and thought I might as well check things out.
I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to looking
into your web page for a second time.