Accommodations  Supports or services given to a student to help him/her access the general curriculum in order to demonstrate learning.

Adaptations—“Any procedure intended to meet an educational situation with respect to individual differences in ability or purpose” (Nebraska Special Populations Office Glossary of Terms).

 FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education)—“The primary intent of special education law, that the education of all children with disabilities will in all cases be free of cost to parents (i.e., at public expense) and appropriate for the particular student”. 

 IEP (Individualized Education Program)—A written document for a child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised annually.  It contains a statement of the present level of educational performance, instructional goals and objectives, educational services to be provided, and criteria and procedures for determining that the instructional objectives are met.

 Inclusion—A belief or philosophy that students with disabilities should be given education in the regular education classroom whether or not they can meet traditional curricular standards.

 LRE (Least Restrictive Environment)—This is a legal term which says that students with disabilities have the right to be educated in a setting that is most like their peers without disabilities provided that they are able to be successful and are given appropriate supports. For many this may be the regular education classroom.  For others, this may be in an environment with like peers.

Mainstreaming— A term used for placing students with disabilities in the general education classroom only when they meet traditional academic expectations with minimum assistance, or when those expectations are not relevant.

Modifications—Changes made to the content and performance expectations for students.

MDT (Multidisciplinary Team)—A team consisting of teachers, specialists, administrators, and parents who assess a student’s individual needs, determine eligibility for special education and develop the IEP.  This team meets every three years at which time decisions and possible changes are made regarding the students continued services.  This information is then written down in a legal document also called an MDT.

Paraeducator or Paraprofessional—Non-certified staff who are employed to assist the certified staff in carrying out education programs and otherwise help in the instruction of students with disabilities.  They are especially helpful when the student is in the regular education classroom and not in a specific special education resource room.