Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
AAC refers to any form of communication other than speech that is used to express thoughts, needs, wants and
ideas or
any forms used to enhance the understanding of the spoken word. AAC includes gestures, facial expressions,
symbols,
pictures, signs, and writing as well as other technology based devices.
Adjustments
An education adjustment is something that the school does specifically to help your child access education.
Advisory visiting teacher (AVT)
Teachers with specialist knowledge and skills, who support the educational programs of students with
disability.
Advocate
Somebody who supports or speaks up on behalf of someone else.
Adjustment Information Management System (AIMS)
Online database used to collect information on students with disabilities.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Developmental disability affecting the three main areas of communication, reciprocal social interaction, and
stereotyped or repetitive behaviours (flexible thinking and imagination). Covers a range of subgroups
including
Asperger Syndrome, Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-nos).
Assessment for learning
A process of assessment throughout the learning process (not just at the end) used to adjust teaching.
Provides
information about student progress that teachers can use to inform their teaching.
Assessment of learning
Assessment at the end of learning process used to summarise what a student can demonstrate at that time.
Assistive technology
All devices used to support individuals with disabilities to demonstrate greater independence with and
perform
functions which otherwise may be difficult or impossible for them.
Auditory memory
The memory for spoken information; many individuals with ASD have a very short auditory memory and can only
retain
one word or one single piece of spoken information.
CALD
Individuals, families or communities who are culturally and linguistically diverse in comparison to the main
population.
Case Manager
The person who is responsible for coordinating the planning and implementation of transition practices within
the
transition period.
Chat book
A tool used to scaffold and prompt communication. Images, photos or sentences can be used to encourage
individuals to
share information, retell experiences develop narratives. The chat book can be particularly useful to
support
individuals with ASD to share what has happened at school with their families and or what has happened at
home/on
the weekend with school staff and peers.
Cognitive processing
The mental processes used to think, learn, problem solve, make sense of and remember information.
Compulsory schooling phase
The time when it is compulsory to go to school, i.e. from when the child is at least six years and six months
to when
they turn 16 or complete Year 10 (whichever comes first).
Concrete cues
Objects or people in the situation that give a clue to what is being said.
Conveyance allowance
An allowance for driving your child to school.
Curriculum Plan
A plan of teaching and learning activities for a class.
Education Adjustment Program (EAP)
The process used by EQ to identify and respond to the needs of students with disability.
Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP)
EQ program or service based at a school to support children with a diagnosed or suspected disability from
birth to
the start of school.
Early Intervention (EI)
Programs and services for infants and young children with developmental delays or disabilities and their
families to
develop the child and the family's skills and future options.
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC)
Includes education and care programs for children such as Kindergarten, long day-care and early intervention
programs.
Echolalia
The repetition of phrases, words, intonation and sounds immediately or delayed (e.g. repeating language
learnt in one
context at a later stage). Can serve a range of purposes: to learn language, indicate confusion, or as an
attempt to
communicate or request.
Education team
The student, the student's parents or carers, teachers, teacher aides, and specialist support personnel.
Education Queensland (EQ)
The division of the Department of Education (DoE) responsible for providing state education.
Executive functioning
The ability to plan, organise, and carry out tasks to achieve goals as well as the ability to monitor and
change
behaviour to respond to changes in the social environment.
Expressive language
How a child expresses their needs and wants, thoughts and feelings. Includes verbal (speech) and non-verbal
means
including use of signs, picture exchange systems, gestures, visual means, ICT use, or written communication.
ICT (Information and Communications Technologies)
A term used to describe the use and integration of digital information systems and technologies. May also be
called
ICLT (Information, Communication and Learning Technologies).
Individual Education Plan (IEP)
An individual education plan developed with parents and specialist staff (special educators, therapists)
containing
priority goals, implementation strategies and assessments for the child. An IEP is required for students who
attend
an ECDP.
IEP Process
The
process of collaboratively planning for the individual needs of a student to determine the
student's
current level of performance, educational needs and future learning priorities. Includes parents, teachers,
specialist support staff and the student (if appropriate).
Individual Learning Plan (ILP)
An individual learning plan for six months developed for a student who requires curriculum at a level higher
or lower
than his or her year-level for some or all of the learning areas. Includes any supports or strategies
already
provided to the student, the year-level curriculum provided, areas requiring focused teaching and any
additional or
other support provided or required.
Inclusion Support Subsidy (ISS)
Funding that supports education and care services (long day care, Kindergarten, OSHC, vacation care etc) to
include
children with disabilities in their programs or services.
P&C
Parents and Citizens' Association.
Paediatricians
Medical professionals who specialise in the treatment of children.
Parent
As defined under Section 10 of the
Education (General Provisions) Act 2006,a parent of a child is any of the following
persons:
- the child's mother
- the child's father
- a person who exercises parental responsibility for the child
- a person under Aboriginal tradition who is regarded as a parent of the child
- a person under Torres Strait Islander custom who is regarded as a parent of the child
- a person granted guardianship of a child under the
Child Protection Act 1999
- a person who exercises parental responsibility under a decision of order of a Federal or State court.
PECS™
Picture Exchange Communication System. A patented low-tech AAC.
Physiotherapists
Therapists who help people develop their physical abilities and functional skills.
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
An evidence-based practice in the management of challenging behaviour. PBS works to reduce instances of
challenging
behaviour through teaching new skills and behaviours that assist an individual to have their needs and wants
met,
adjusting the environment to promote positive behaviour and removing punitive consequences. PBS relies upon
teachers
having a clear understanding of the challenging behaviour and why it occurs.
Prep year
A non- compulsory five day per week program where children stay all day (usually from 9am to 3pm) available
at
primary schools. Prep gives children the best start to formal schooling (Year 1). Children need to be five
by 30
June in the year they enrol in Prep.
Principal Advisor, Education Services (PA, ES)
The key contact person at the regional level for enrolling students in special school.
Principal Education Officer, Student Services (PEO, SS)
The primary contact person at the regional level for parents of children with disability.
Prop
An item or toy that will encourage and support a child's imaginative play or communication.
Proprioceptive
Relating to stimuli that are produced and perceived within an organism, especially those connected with the
position
and movement of the body.
Psychiatrist
A medical professional who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Psychiatrists may
also
prescribe medication for their patients.
Psychologist/Clinical psychologist
A therapist who works with people to understand, prevent and relieve their psychologically based problems. A
psychologist may assist with strategies to manage emotions, behaviour, support learning or develop social
skills,
assessments and observations, and support for the whole family.
School transport assessor
A trained person in a school who liaises with parents about school transport assistance matters and assesses
whether
a student is eligible for the
School Transport Assistance Program for Students With Disabilities.
SDE
School of Distance Education.
Self-care skills
Skills for dressing, feeding, toileting, eating, applying sunscreen and managing personal belongings.
Self-care
Tasks of daily living carried out by a person e.g. dressing, toileting, washing hands, blowing nose, applying
sunscreen.
Self-stimulatory behaviour
Seeking activities or sensations for the purpose of calming themselves or gaining a particular sensation.
Sensory processing
How sensory information is taken in and processed by the brain.
SEP
Special Education Program.
SGO
Senior guidance officer.
Shoebox tasks
Patented structured activities that support children to use their visual and sequential strengths. Tasks can
be the
size and shape of a shoebox (hence the name) and generally all the elements of the task can be contained in
the box.
Shoebox tasks 'show' what the child has to do rather than relying on language and actively involve
the child
(he or she has to make, sort, post, match, trace, connect items) supporting understanding.
Social Stories
™
Provides a description of an event or situation and seeks to provide social information regarding
perspectives, cues,
and appropriate responses. Social stories follow a set format in their design and construction.
Special Education Programs
Programs that give specialist support to students with disability in state schools.
Special Education Teachers
Teachers with specialist knowledge and skills, who support the educational programs of students with
disability.
Special school
A school that only provides education to students with disability.
Speech-language pathologists
Therapists who assists students with special needs in communication.
Standardised
Done in the same way each time.
Story-based intervention
A written or visually represented sequence of information designed to assists the reader to understand the
how what,
when, where, who, and why of a situation. Information is provided in a story format and seeks to provide the
reader
with skills to respond appropriately to specific situations.
SWPBS Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Support
A proactive, team-based system approach and decision making framework that guides selection, integration and
implementation of evidence-based practices for improving academic and behavioural outcomes for all students
in a
safe school environment.