| ADA/Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) |
The civil rights act for persons with disabilities. Accommodations: practices and procedures in the areas of presentation, response, setting and timing/scheduling that provide instructional and assessment access for students with disabilities. Provides access; does not reduce learning expectations. |
| ADL/Activities of Daily Living |
Basic skills such as housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, money management, arranging social activities, use of public transportation and self-medication. |
| Advocacy |
Speaking for or urging a cause, such as equal access to community services. |
| Aging Out |
Term applying to a student who is nearing the end of his/her school career. It is generally used in regard to students who have severe disabilities and who will require programs and services into their adult years. In the state of Delaware students “age out” upon completion of the school year they turn 22 years old. |
| (AT)Assistive Technology Device |
Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off-the-shelf, modified or customized, that increases, maintains, or improves functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. |
| Career/Vocational Assessment |
The systematic collection of information about the student’s vocational aptitudes, abilities, expressed interest, and occupational awareness used in planning his or her transition to competitive employment or postsecondary education. |
| Caregiver |
One who looks after or takes charge of a person. |
| Case Management |
Case management can connect you with the services you may need. This can be especially helpful when you are moving from a hospital or nursing home into the community. Mental health center staff can help you to find medical, child welfare, employment and other services you might need to live independently. |
| CBI: Community Based Instruction |
Integrating students into their community as part of their education. |
| Community-Based Services |
Services provided in a non-institutional setting, preferably in an individual’s home community. |
| Community Navigator |
Community Navigators identify and verify current available services to ensure community members are quickly connected to the support they need. In the state of Delaware an assigned caseworker from The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services is called a Community Navigator. |
| Community Supported Living Arrangement (SLA) |
Provision of supports and services designed to help an individual live in his/her own home or apartment in a community near significant others. |
| Community Residence |
A facility in the community providing room, board, and clinical supervision and homelike environment. Two examples are group homes and halfway houses. |
| Competitive Employment |
A job in the community in which the hiring, salary, and job description, and evaluations are handled equally for all employees. |
| DDDS (Columbus Agency) |
The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities by accessing services they need to thrive in their community. DDDS works to identify and support the unique needs of eligible service recipients by offering access to an extensive network of providers including: employment and pre-vocational services; support coordination and community navigation; assistive technologies; respite; a variety of day and residential programs; and, options for supported living |
| DHS: Department of Human Services |
This department provides a wide array of services for people who are economically and socially disadvantaged. The department also supervises residential facilities to protect the rights of clients and ensure adequate levels of care. |
| DME (Durable Medical Equipment) |
DME is equipment ordered by a doctor for use at home. This is equipment that is built to last and can be used again and again. DME are items like hospital beds, wheelchairs, respirators, crutches, ventilators, nebulizers, etc. DME is one of the benefits provided by Medicaid. |
| DVR |
The Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is a public program that helps people with physical or mental disabilities to obtain or retain employment. DVR’s commitment is to help people with disabilities increase independence through employment. The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) is a partner in helping job seekers develop skill sets to find employment. |
| Educational Surrogate Parent |
A person who is appointed to serve as a parent representative to the school, for a student receiving special education services, when parental rights have been terminated or the parents/guardians are unknown or cannot be located. |
| Employment Navigator |
The Employment Navigator has the knowledge and expertise necessary to initiate successful planning and coordination of supports in order to help job-seekers gain meaningful employment, as well as sustain those jobs, and to increase the likelihood of career advancement. |
| Family Directed Planning |
A planning process in which the student and the student’s family are the team leaders. |
| Family Support Groups |
Self-help groups for family members who have a relative with a disability. |
| Guardianship |
A court proceeding that grants decision-making authority for an adult with a significant cognitive disability to a third party (e.g., parent is granted decision-making power over their child’s finances). |
| HCBS/LTSS (Long-Term Services and Supports) |
Long-term services and supports (LTSS) refers to both institutional care and home- and community-based services (HCBS). Medicaid beneficiaries who use LTSS are a diverse group, spanning a range of ages with different types of physical and cognitive disabilities. They often receive services and supports for many years, or even decades. The types and intensity of services they require vary, both across and within subgroups. |
| Home-based Support |
Provides service to persons with severe disabilities so that they can remain in their homes and be as independent as possible. |
| IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act |
Reauthorization of PL 94-142. These are the federal regulations that govern special education, IEP, and transition services. |
| IEP: Individualized Education Program |
The written plan designed to help develop specific educational goals for the child with disabilities. It identifies the disability; describes the child’s strengths and areas of need; lists goals that the child should reach in a year’s time; includes short-term instructional objectives that represent a series of skills to master or goals to accomplish; and, identifies programs and services, including regular education, that the child will receive. The IEP is reviewed each year. From age 14 on, the IEP will also address transition needs and services. |
| IEP Team |
A multidisciplinary team, including the student and parents that review evaluations and recommend special educational programs and services for children with disabilities. |
| Indicator 13 |
Indicator 13 data will be collected for all students who have an IEP and are at/beyond the middle of the 8th grade or aged 14 and above. For school districts and charters, Indicator 13 is considered a 100% Compliance Indicator. https://www.doe.k12.de.us/cms/lib/DE01922744/Centricity/Domain/78/DE_indicator13_checklist.pdf |
| In-home Respite/Respite Care |
Services in the home of the person with a disability to relieve the usual caregiver (parent, spouse, sibling, etc.) of the care of the individual for a period of time. |
| Independent Living |
Living in a house or apartment alone or with others, but not with a family member or professional staff. |
| Job Coach |
A person who provides assistance to an individual with a disability to learn or maintain a job. This can include training and support at the job site. See supported Employment. |
| Job Training |
Program that prepares people for job opportunities. |
| Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) |
Requires that, to the maximum extent appropriate, students with disabilities aged 3 through 22, in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled. |
| Leisure Time Skills |
Generally refers to skills such as developing hobbies, making choices about what recreational or social activities to attend, deciding how to spend free time, and putting the ideas into action. |
| Lifespan Waiver |
The Lifespan Waiver provides eligible Delawareans access to Medicaid-approved services through the 1915(c) Home and Community Based Services Waiver. Individuals on the waiver are supported to live more independently in their homes and communities through services that promote and support community living. |
| Medicaid |
A program of monetary assistance for people who cannot afford to pay for medical care or individuals with a documented disability. Transportation and medical services are some of the activities that can be funded by Medicaid. (There is Children’s disabled Medicaid that is INDEPENDENT of how much money the family makes). |
| Medicare |
A federal health insurance program mainly for persons aged 65 or older, with some limited benefits for younger persons who have been eligible for Social Security disability benefits for more than two years. |
| Miller Trusts |
When a Miller Trust is established, the person's income is deposited into the trust which is used to pay for the cost of their care. Upon the person's death, funds remaining in the Miller Trust are used to reimburse the State's Medicaid program for the cost of the care that the person received. |
| Networking |
Sharing information or services among individuals, groups, or agencies. |
| Occupational Therapy/OT |
Occupational therapy focuses on the things you want and need to do in your daily life. Occupational therapy intervention uses everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and your ability to participate in the important activities in your life. |
| Outpatient |
A patient, not hospitalized, who is treated in an office, clinic, or other health care facility. |
| Peer Counseling |
A type of guidance in which persons of the same age, disability, or other similar interest are trained to help or guide others. |
| Physical Therapy/PT |
Physical therapy includes certain exercises, massages and treatments based on physical stimuli (e.g. heat, cold, electrical currents or ultrasound). The aim of physical therapy is to relieve pain, help you move better or strengthen weakened muscles. Physical therapy might be needed any time a problem with movement limits someone's daily activities. Physical therapists use a variety of treatments to help build strength, improve movement, and strengthen skills needed to complete daily activities. |
| Power of Attorney (Guardian) |
Refers to a legal authorization that gives a designated person the power to act for someone else. As such, a POA gives the agent or attorney-in-fact the authority to act on behalf of the principal. The agent may be given broad or limited authority to make decisions about the principal's property, finances, investments, or medical care. |
| Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) |
Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) offer students with disabilities an early start at career exploration and preparation for adult life. DVR works with students and their families, along with schools and community partners to support students with gaining knowledge. In addition, students take part in pre-employment experiences that help them to make informed decisions about their future. |
| Pre-Vocational |
The term refers to activities designed to prepare an individual for job skills and job related behaviors. |
| Primary Caregiver |
The person who spends the most time caring for someone who is unable to live independently. |
| Recreational Therapy |
A structured plan to develop a healthy body and mind through fun and relaxation. |
| Referral |
Sending a client to another source or provider to get advice or treatment. |
| Rehabilitation Act of 1973 |
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended (Rehab Act) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by federal agencies, in programs receiving federal financial assistance, in federal employment, and in the employment practices of federal contractors. This federal act makes provisions for training, equipment, and other services that people with disabilities may need in order to work and live independently in their communities. |
| Residential Care/Treatment |
Programs providing therapeutic living environments in community-based facilities such as community residences. |
| Respite |
Time away from the responsibilities of caring for someone who cannot care for him/herself. |
| School to Work Opportunities Act |
The federal act that provides funding for systemic change that includes work-based, school-based and connecting activities to create quality opportunities for all students. |
| Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act |
Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. Title II prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by state and local governments. |
| Self-Determination |
A process in which the individual’s preferences, interests, abilities and wishes are the focus of planning and implementing activities. |
| Service Provider |
A service provider is an individual or entity that provides services to another party. The agencies that support individuals with disabilities when they exit school based programming at the age of 22 are typically referred to as service providers. |
| Social Worker |
A profession in which trained professionals are devoted to helping vulnerable people and communities work through challenges they face in everyday life. |
| Speech Therapy/SLP |
Speech therapy can help people who have difficulty speaking to communicate better and to break down the barriers that result from speech impediments. The goals of speech therapy include improving pronunciation, strengthening the muscles used in speech, and learning to speak correctly. |
| Supplemental Needs Trust (SNT) |
An irrevocable trust that takes effect during a parent’s lifetime, generally used to supplement the government benefits. |
| Social Security |
Federal government income plan payable to retired workers, survivors, and individuals with disabilities, who qualify. |
| Supplemental Security Income (SSI) |
Basic monthly financial assistance for people with disabilities who are not gainfully employed and for the elderly. |
| Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) |
Provides benefits to workers or certain members of a worker’s family who may qualify, based on an impairment severe enough to prevent working for a year or more, or which is expected to result in death. The definition requires total disability. Benefits will continue as long as the person is medically disabled and not engaged in substantial gainful employment. |
| Support Groups |
Groups of people with similar needs and concerns who meet together to support each other and share information. |
| Supported Apartment |
An apartment where a person with a disability gets help in order to live as independently as possible. |
| Supported Employment |
A program for persons with significant disabilities designed to assist integration into competitive employment. |
| Supported Living Arrangement (SLA) |
A group residence where an individual lives with minimum supervision from paid staff members. Residents are expected to self administer medications, to demonstrate basic social and daily living skills, to function independently in the community and work or attend a day program. |
| Transition |
The passing from one condition, activity or place to another. The movement from school to adult life and the world of work. The transition is complex and involves decisions about career, living arrangements, social and financial goals. |
| Transition Fair |
A fair in Delaware that is held once per year, put on in collaboration by the local school districts. The purpose of the transition fair is to connect students and families to resources that help them build success after school-based programming comes to an end. |
| Transition Services |
A coordinated set of activities for students as part of the IEP, designed to promote movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational training, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, related services, independent living, or community participation. Transition planning becomes a part of the IEP process for students at age 14. |
| Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) |
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. |
