Glossary

We have included this Glossary for reference.

It has definitions for terms used throughout the four weeks. You aren’t expected to remember all the new terms you come across in this four-week course.

You can refer to the Glossary throughout the course by returning to this step or by downloading the PDF version, which is available in the Downloads section.

If you come across any other words that you would like us to add to the Glossary, please add them to the Comments section. These can then be added for the next run of the course.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• A condition that affects people’s behaviour, making them seem restless, have trouble concentrating, and act on impulse.

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

• A range of strategies and tools to help people who struggle with speech.

Autism/Autism spectrum condition/Autistic spectrum condition

• A neurological and developmental condition that affects interaction, communication, learning, and behaviour.

B
 

C
 

Cerebral palsy

• The name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect motor movement and coordination.

Cognition

• Thinking and understanding.

Co-occurring conditions

• A condition that occurs alongside another condition (e.g., individuals with autism may have epilepsy).

Cognitive functioning

• Ability to mentally process.

D

Diabetes

• A metabolic disorder in which the body has high sugar levels for prolonged periods of time.

Down’s syndrome

• A genetic condition associated with some level of learning disability and some associated health conditions.

Dyslexia

• A specific learning difficulty that impacts an individual’s ability to process and use written language.

Dyspraxia or DCD (developmental coordination disorder)

• A neurodevelopmental condition that affects motor skills and coordination.

E

Epilepsy

• A neurological condition that causes seizures or unusual sensations or behaviours.

Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

• A legally binding document outlining a child or teenager’s special educational, health, and social care needs, including detailed, quantified plans to provide provisions.

F

Fragile X syndrome

• A genetic condition that can cause a wide range of difficulties with learning, as well as social, language, attentional, emotional, and behavioural problems.

G

H

I

Impairment

• An injury, illness, or congenital condition that causes or is likely to cause a loss or difference of physiological or psychological function.

J

K

L

Learning disability

• A condition affecting how someone learns throughout their life.

M

Motor co-ordination

• The orchestrated movement of multiple body parts as required to accomplish intended actions, like walking.

Muscular dystrophy

• A group of inherited genetic conditions that weaken the muscles and cause disability.

N

Nuance

• A subtle difference or variation in meaning or appearance.

O

P

Q

R

Reasonable adjustments

• Changes made to remove or reduce a disadvantage related to someone’s disability.

S

Scribe

• Someone who supports an individual by acting as a writer for them.

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z