Annual Review: A meeting held once a year to update your child�s IEP.
Conference: A meeting with your child�s teacher and possibly with others who work with your child for the purpose of reporting your child's progress.
EI (Noncategorical): The student has a disability but at this time it cannot be determined exactly what the disability is. Used for children through age 7.
HI (Hearing Impairment)
IEP (Individualized Education Plan or Individualized Education Program): This document tells what your child will receive special help in and what she/he will attempt to learn in a given time frame (usually one year). The IEP is written at least once a year, though a few children need theirs revised before that time.
Integration: Your child receives at least some of his/her instruction with non-handicapped students.
LD (Learning Disability): Most LD students are in regular education classes, at least to some extent. Their disability exists in at least one academic area, usually reading or math. They require extra help in learning these skills. This term includes children who have been diagnosed as dyslexic.
LRE (Least Restrictive Environment): LRE is mandated by PL 94-142. LRE means that your child must be placed in the most normal environment in which the child still learns at an adequate rate.
Mainstream: Your child�s mainstream classroom is his/her regular education classroom.
Mainstreaming: Your child will be in classes with non-handicapped students.
MDE (Mentally Disabled-Educable): MDE children do learn academic subjects, but these are learned at a slower rate than with non-handicapped chilren. School subjects generally need to be made simpler for MDE children.
MDT (Mentally Disabled-Trainable): MDT students do not generally study academic subjects. School teaches them basic survival and vocational skills. MDT students learn slowly and with many attempts.
Multicategorical: A special education program which services children of more than one disability type.
OT (Occupational Therapy): The occupational therapist works mainly on fine motor skills with your child. Writing, coloring, and cutting are 3 important skills in elementary school which are worked on.
PD (Physical Disability): Children with physical disabilities which interfere with their schooling may qualify for special education services under this heading. Children with ADD/ADHD may fall under this category if their disability is impairing their school functioning.
PT (Physical Therapy): Manipulation of the child�s body, used to improve muscle tone, control, and coordination.
Resource Room: Children with mild disabilities go to a resource room for up to 49% of the day, ranging from 15 min. per day to 2 1/2 hours per day. The teacher there gives them special help with their schooling.
Self-contained class (SCI): Almost all academic subjects are taught in this class, with the possible exceptions of sujects such as art, music, P.E. For those classes, and classes not affected by the child's disability area, the student would receive instruction with his or her peers. An SCI class is one which is attended for 50% or more of the day, for students with more severe disabilities.
SLP (Speech/Language Pathologist): The SLP helps children with speech errors and also those with difficulties in language patterns, such as grammar.
Staffing: A meeting to review your child�s progress. Several people may be present, including your child�s teacher, principal, and AEA personnel.
