Special Education Terms

noun a developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact

• Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction and communication.
• My cousin has autism and he loves trains more than anything else.
• Some people use 'autism' as a slang insult, which is completely inappropriate.
• Dealing with a difficult situation can sometimes feel like navigating through a maze of autism.

adjective describing a person who has autism, a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior

• Many autistic individuals have unique talents and abilities.
• My cousin is autistic and he loves playing video games.
• Some people use 'autistic' as a derogatory term, which is not okay.
• His mind works in such an autistic way, always focused on the details.

noun a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities

• The patient's impairment of motor skills was evident during the physical examination.
• She struggled with her impairment of vision while trying to read the small print.
• His impairment from last night's party left him feeling groggy and disoriented.
• The company's financial impairment was a result of poor decision-making by the management.

adjective describing someone who is lacking in intelligence or quickness of mind

• The professor noticed that the student was slow-witted when it came to solving complex equations.
• I can't believe how slow-witted he is sometimes, it takes him forever to understand simple instructions.
• She's a bit slow-witted, so you might need to explain things a few times for her to get it.
• His slow-witted responses in the meeting made it clear that he was not on the same page as everyone else.

noun SENCO is a noun that stands for Special Educational Needs Coordinator, a person responsible for coordinating support for students with special educational needs in a school.

• The SENCO is responsible for overseeing the special educational needs provision in the school.
• I heard the SENCO is really good at helping students with special needs.
• Hey, have you met the new SENCO yet? They seem pretty chill.
• The SENCO is like a guiding light for students who need extra support in their learning journey.