COMMONLY USED TERMS

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Specially designed instruction to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

REFERRAL

A request for the special education process to begin. Collection of data available from school personnel and parents.

ASSESSMENT

Formal and/or informal testing done by diagnosticians, teachers, speech clinicians, psychologists, medical doctors, etc. (depending on the possibility) which is used to determine if the student is eligible for special education services.

ARD

(Admission, Review, and Dismissal Committee) This committee meets to discuss a student's educational placement into, out of, or continuing in a special education setting. Parents are always invited to participate in the meeting.

IEP

(Individualized Educational Plan)

A written plan for each disabled student developed by the ARD committee which describes the instructional and related services necessary for educational benefits.

ANNUAL REVIEW

An ARD meeting that is held at least once a year (spring) to update the student's progress and to develop an IEP for the following year.

L.R.E.

(Least Restrictive Environment)

Educating disabled students with their non disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate.

RELATED SERVICES

Developmental, corrective, and supportive services which students may need to benefit from special education. Some related services are transportation, physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.

RESOURCES

ARC(Association for Retarted Citizens)

957-3357

Parent to Parent for Fragile X

481-0540

Attention Deficit Disorder Association

955-3720

Self Help for Hard of Hearing People

462-7415

Autism Society

868-0105

Shriner's Hospital

797-1616

Center for the Retarded

475-0318

Social Security

795-4422

Children's Center (Respite Care)

522-1131

Special Olympics

270-7992

Dept. of Human Resources      (Nursing Home Waiver)

692-3236

Spina Bifida Assoc. of Houston 

Southeast Community Clinic (Pasadena)

862-1446

473-3475

Down Syndrome Assoc. of  Hou.

682-7237

Strawberry Clinic

477-6851

Epilepsy Association

861-1908

Texas Rehabilitation Commission

487-2224

Family Service Center

472-2344

Texas State Commission for the Blind

944-9924

G.E.D. 

Harris County Health Department

477-1443

740-5000

Texas State Commission for Deaf &     Hard of Hearing (Austin) (210)

 451-8494

Hear-Say (Hering Impaired)

Hope Village

666-2625

482-7926

The Institute of Rehabilitation & Research

  799-5000

Houston Child Guidance

526-3232

Verne Cox Center (Recreation)

487-1755

Mental Health Mental Retardation

333-9700

Vita Living (Community Living)

271-5795

Neighborhood Centers

944-2066

 

 

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