Special Education Vocabulary

noun a sum of money paid regularly to a person, typically to meet specified needs or expenses

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• The company provides a monthly travel allowance for employees who commute long distances.
• My parents give me a weekly allowance for doing chores around the house.
• I blew my entire allowance on video games this month.
• Having a sense of humor is like having an emotional allowance to navigate life's challenges.

noun a system of writing or printing for blind or visually impaired people, in which varied arrangements of raised dots representing letters and numerals are identified by touch

• Braille is a system of raised dots that can be felt with the fingertips and used by people who are visually impaired.
• I learned how to read Braille so I can help my visually impaired friend.
• Some people think Braille is like secret code for blind people.
• Learning to read Braille opened up a whole new world of understanding for me.

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

• The organization is committed to providing equal opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
• She has a disability that requires her to use a wheelchair.
• Don't judge a person by their disability.
• Fear can be a disability that holds us back from reaching our full potential.

adjective describing a person or thing that has a physical or mental condition that restricts their ability to function normally

• The organization provides support services for disabled individuals.
• My cousin is disabled and uses a wheelchair to get around.
• Some people use the term 'differently abled' instead of disabled.
• The old computer was disabled and needed to be replaced.

adjective capable of being educated or trained

• The educable students in the program showed significant improvement in their academic performance.
• She's one of the most educable people I know, always eager to learn new things.
• My friend is so educable, she picks up new skills like it's nothing.
• Being educable is like having a sponge for a brain, always ready to soak up knowledge.

adjective A term used to describe someone who is lacking in intelligence or mental strength.

• The psychologist diagnosed the patient as feeble-minded due to their low cognitive abilities.
• Some people mistakenly believe that individuals with disabilities are feeble-minded.
• Don't listen to him, he's just feeble-minded.
• The feeble-minded argument presented by the opposition was quickly dismantled by the expert debater.

adjective a term used to describe someone who has a physical or mental disability that limits their ability to function in certain ways

• The building has ramps and elevators to accommodate handicapped individuals.
• My cousin is handicapped, but she doesn't let it stop her from living life to the fullest.
• Some people still use outdated slang terms like 'crippled' to refer to handicapped individuals.
• Being stuck in a dead-end job can feel like being handicapped in terms of career growth.

noun a stupid act or statement

• The court deemed the defendant's actions as a result of his imbecility.
• Her imbecility was evident when she couldn't solve a simple math problem.
• Stop acting with such imbecility, it's getting annoying.
• The imbecility of the plan was clear when it fell apart within minutes.

adjective having a disability or function that is diminished in some way

• The impaired driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
• The impaired driver got pulled over for drunk driving.
• The impaired driver got busted for DUI.
• His impaired judgment led to a series of bad decisions.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case 'self-contained' describes something that is complete or independent

• The self-contained apartment had everything the tenant needed for a comfortable stay.
• I love staying in self-contained cabins when I go camping.
• The tiny house is so cool - it's totally self-contained!
• Her self-contained demeanor made it difficult for others to get to know her.

noun a person affected by muscle spasm

adjective relating to or affected by muscle spasm

• The medical term for spasticity is a condition characterized by stiff or rigid muscles.
• My brother has a spastic leg that he has to deal with on a daily basis.
• Stop being so spastic and just relax for a minute.
• The spastic movements of the dancer added an element of unpredictability to the performance.

noun the action of treating someone or something in a special way

• The CEO's son received special treatment by being given a high-ranking position in the company.
• She always gets special treatment because she's the boss's favorite.
• He's always getting the VIP treatment because he knows the owner.
• The cat demanded special treatment by refusing to eat anything but gourmet food.

noun a medical condition characterized by short stature resulting from a genetic or medical condition

• Dwarfism is a medical condition characterized by unusually small stature.
• My friend with dwarfism is the funniest person I know.
• Some people use the term 'midget' to refer to individuals with dwarfism, but it is considered offensive.
• The company's budget constraints caused a form of organizational dwarfism, limiting growth opportunities.

noun a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

adjective a word naming an attribute of a noun, such as sweet, red, or technical

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

article a particular item or object

• Individuals who exhibit certain behaviors may be considered to be on the spectrum of autism.
• My brother is on the spectrum, but he's really good at math.
• Some people say I'm a bit on the spectrum because I get really focused on my hobbies.
• Her emotions were on the spectrum today, ranging from extreme joy to deep sadness.

noun ASD

• Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may exhibit challenges in social communication and interaction.
• My cousin was diagnosed with ASD when he was young.
• People with ASD often see the world differently.
• Navigating social situations can be like decoding a puzzle for those with ASD.

noun AAC is a field of study in communication disorders.

• The company implemented AAC technology to improve communication for employees with speech disabilities.
• I downloaded an AAC app on my phone to help me communicate more effectively.
• AAC is a lifesaver for people who struggle with verbal communication.
• Using AAC is like having a voice when words fail you.

adverb modifying or describing a verb, adjective, or other adverb in a manner that relates to adaptation or adjusting to different conditions or circumstances

• The algorithm is designed to adaptively adjust its parameters based on changing data inputs.
• The system can learn adaptively from user interactions and improve its performance over time.
• She's really good at adaptively handling different situations and always knows what to do.
• Like a chameleon, he adaptively blends into any social environment effortlessly.