Praxis 5355 | Special
Education: Foundational
Knowledge
Updated Questions and
Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep
and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a piece of American legislation that
ensures students with a disability are provided with a Free Appropriate Public
Education that is tailored to their individual needs.
FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) The right to a Free Appropriate Public Education is an educational entitlement of all
students in the United States who are identified as having a disability, guaranteed
by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) Least restrictive environment (LRE) means kids who get special education should
be in the same classrooms as other kids as much as possible. LRE isn't a place —
it's a principle that guides a child's education program. The LRE for each child may
look different because kids are unique.
IFSP - Individualized Family Service Plan For education in the United States, an Individualized Family Service Plan is a plan
to obtain special education services for young children aged 0-3 years within U.S.
public schools.
The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written document that outlines
the early intervention services that a child will receive when s/he is eligible for early
childhood special education services.
IEP - Individualized Education Program The IEP is a legal document that describes the child's needs and the services to be
provided by the school district that will best meet those needs. The IEP is an
educational plan that: Describes the child's skills and areas of need. Identifies
educational goals to focus on during the year.
FM - Personal Frequency-Modulated System Used to help someone with hearing loss listen in noisy places, ie. a classroom
Generally a microphone attaches to the teacher, then a receiving device for the
student ("boot" attached to hearing aid or cochlear implant, desktop speaker,
speakers around the classroom, other device worn on ear)
PLAAFP Present Levels or Academic Achievement and Functional Performance
Paraprofessional A teacher assistant, teacher aide, or paraeducator
Parent A biological parent, legal guardian, surrogate, adoptive parent, or foster parent
ADHD - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder a psychological disorder marked by the appearance by age 7 of one or more of
three key symptoms: extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
EBD - Emotional disturbance and/or emotional behavioral Exhibits inappropriate types of behaviors or feelings under normal circumstances
disorder
refers to a condition in which behavioral or emotional responses of an individual in
school are so different from his/her generally accepted, age appropriate, ethnic or
cultural norms that they adversely affect performance in such areas as self care,
social relationships, personal relationships
OHI - Other Health Impairment a general disability category under IDEA that includes cancer, diabetes and severe
ADD
ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in
communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive
behaviors
,MD (Multiple Disabilities) Combination of impairments which cause severe educational needs of the student.
SLD - Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in
understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in
the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical
calculations
Dyslexia Dyslexia is a term that refers to difficulty in acquiring and processing language that
is typically manifested by the lack or proficiency in reading, spelling and writing.
People with dyslexia have difficulty connecting letters they see on a page with the
sounds they make. As a result, reading becomes slow and effortful and is not a
fluent process for them.
Problems in reading begin even before learning to read. For example, children may
have trouble breaking down spoken words into syllables and recognizing words that
rhyme. Kindergarten-age children may not be able to recognize and write letters as
well as their peers. People with dyslexia may have difficulty with accuracy and
spelling as well. It's a common misconception that all children with dyslexia write
letters backwards or those who write letters backwards all have dyslexia.
People with dyslexia, including adolescents and adults, often try to avoid activities
involving reading when they can (reading for pleasure, reading instructions). They
often gravitate to other mediums such as pictures, video, or audio.
Dysgraphia Dysgraphia is a term used to describe difficulties with putting one's thoughts on to
paper. Problems with writing can include difficulties with spelling, grammar,
punctuation, and handwriting.
Dyscalculia Dyscalculia is a term used to describe difficulties learning number related concepts
or using the symbols and functions to perform math calculations. Problems with
math can include difficulties with number sense, memorizing math facts, math
calculations, math reasoning and math problem solving.
Auditory Processing Disorder Processing or interpretation of sound in the brain
Difficulty making sense of sounds
Problems with blocking out background noise
Trouble telling where sound is coming from
Language Processing Disorder Affects language processing skills
Difficulty understanding meaning of spoken language
Poor reading comprehension
Problems with verbal expression
Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Affects nonverbal skills such as motor, visual-spatial, and social skills
Difficulty interpreting body language or facial expressions
Poor motor coordination
Trouble with multi-step instructions
Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit Affects interpreting visual information or drawing
Mistakes in writing, such as reversing letters
Too-tight grip on pencil or other writing tool
Poor hand/eye coordination
Dysmetria The inability to control the distance, speed, and range of motion necessary to
perform smoothly coordinated movements. Dysmetria is a sign of cerebellar
damage, and often presents along with additional signs, such as loss of balance
and poor coordination of walking, speech, and eye movements.
Dyspraxia A common disorder that affects movement and coordination. Dyspraxia does not
affect your intelligence. It can affect your coordination skills - such as tasks requiring
balance, playing sports or learning to drive a car.
, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) Brain dysfunction caused by an outside force, usually a violent blow to the head.
Traumatic brain injury often occurs as a result of a severe sports injury or car
accident.
Immediate or delayed symptoms may include confusion, blurry vision, and
concentration difficulty.
The continuum of placements, from least restrictive to regular classes, special schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals.
most restrictive
ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) Often referred to as an acquired brain injury, a non-traumatic brain injury causes
damage to the brain by internal factors, such as a lack of oxygen, exposure to
toxins, pressure from a tumor, etc. Examples of NTBI include:
Stroke
Near-drowning
Aneurysm
Tumor
Infectious disease that affects the brain (i.e., meningitis)
Lack of oxygen supply to the brain (i.e., heart attack)
Learned Helplessness occurs when an individual continuously faces a negative, uncontrollable situation
and stops trying to change their circumstances, even when they have the ability to
do so. For example, a smoker may repeatedly try and fail to quit.
Self-Acutualization Self-actualization, in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, is the highest level of
psychological development, where personal potential is fully realized after basic
bodily and ego needs have been fulfilled.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization
Intrinsic Movement/Motivation Intrinsic motivation is the act of doing something without any obvious external
rewards. You do it because it's enjoyable and interesting, rather than because of an
outside incentive or pressure to do it, such as a reward or deadline.
OT (Occupational Theray) a branch of health care that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or
cognitive problems. OT can help them regain independence in all areas of their
lives. Occupational therapists help with barriers that affect a person's emotional,
social, and physical needs.
PT (Physical Therapy) the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage,
heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery.
Spina Bifida a condition that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. It is a type of
neural tube defect (NTD). Spina bifida can happen anywhere along the spine if the
neural tube does not close all the way.
Down Syndrome a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are small
"packages" of genes in the body. They determine how a baby's body forms and
functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth. Typically, a baby is born with
46 chromosomes.
Down syndrome causes a distinct facial appearance, intellectual disability,
developmental delays, and may be associated with thyroid or heart disease.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and
posture. CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral means
having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the
muscles.
Education: Foundational
Knowledge
Updated Questions and
Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep
and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a piece of American legislation that
ensures students with a disability are provided with a Free Appropriate Public
Education that is tailored to their individual needs.
FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) The right to a Free Appropriate Public Education is an educational entitlement of all
students in the United States who are identified as having a disability, guaranteed
by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) Least restrictive environment (LRE) means kids who get special education should
be in the same classrooms as other kids as much as possible. LRE isn't a place —
it's a principle that guides a child's education program. The LRE for each child may
look different because kids are unique.
IFSP - Individualized Family Service Plan For education in the United States, an Individualized Family Service Plan is a plan
to obtain special education services for young children aged 0-3 years within U.S.
public schools.
The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a written document that outlines
the early intervention services that a child will receive when s/he is eligible for early
childhood special education services.
IEP - Individualized Education Program The IEP is a legal document that describes the child's needs and the services to be
provided by the school district that will best meet those needs. The IEP is an
educational plan that: Describes the child's skills and areas of need. Identifies
educational goals to focus on during the year.
FM - Personal Frequency-Modulated System Used to help someone with hearing loss listen in noisy places, ie. a classroom
Generally a microphone attaches to the teacher, then a receiving device for the
student ("boot" attached to hearing aid or cochlear implant, desktop speaker,
speakers around the classroom, other device worn on ear)
PLAAFP Present Levels or Academic Achievement and Functional Performance
Paraprofessional A teacher assistant, teacher aide, or paraeducator
Parent A biological parent, legal guardian, surrogate, adoptive parent, or foster parent
ADHD - Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder a psychological disorder marked by the appearance by age 7 of one or more of
three key symptoms: extreme inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity
EBD - Emotional disturbance and/or emotional behavioral Exhibits inappropriate types of behaviors or feelings under normal circumstances
disorder
refers to a condition in which behavioral or emotional responses of an individual in
school are so different from his/her generally accepted, age appropriate, ethnic or
cultural norms that they adversely affect performance in such areas as self care,
social relationships, personal relationships
OHI - Other Health Impairment a general disability category under IDEA that includes cancer, diabetes and severe
ADD
ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by significant deficiencies in
communication and social interaction, and by rigidly fixated interests and repetitive
behaviors
,MD (Multiple Disabilities) Combination of impairments which cause severe educational needs of the student.
SLD - Specific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in
understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in
the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical
calculations
Dyslexia Dyslexia is a term that refers to difficulty in acquiring and processing language that
is typically manifested by the lack or proficiency in reading, spelling and writing.
People with dyslexia have difficulty connecting letters they see on a page with the
sounds they make. As a result, reading becomes slow and effortful and is not a
fluent process for them.
Problems in reading begin even before learning to read. For example, children may
have trouble breaking down spoken words into syllables and recognizing words that
rhyme. Kindergarten-age children may not be able to recognize and write letters as
well as their peers. People with dyslexia may have difficulty with accuracy and
spelling as well. It's a common misconception that all children with dyslexia write
letters backwards or those who write letters backwards all have dyslexia.
People with dyslexia, including adolescents and adults, often try to avoid activities
involving reading when they can (reading for pleasure, reading instructions). They
often gravitate to other mediums such as pictures, video, or audio.
Dysgraphia Dysgraphia is a term used to describe difficulties with putting one's thoughts on to
paper. Problems with writing can include difficulties with spelling, grammar,
punctuation, and handwriting.
Dyscalculia Dyscalculia is a term used to describe difficulties learning number related concepts
or using the symbols and functions to perform math calculations. Problems with
math can include difficulties with number sense, memorizing math facts, math
calculations, math reasoning and math problem solving.
Auditory Processing Disorder Processing or interpretation of sound in the brain
Difficulty making sense of sounds
Problems with blocking out background noise
Trouble telling where sound is coming from
Language Processing Disorder Affects language processing skills
Difficulty understanding meaning of spoken language
Poor reading comprehension
Problems with verbal expression
Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Affects nonverbal skills such as motor, visual-spatial, and social skills
Difficulty interpreting body language or facial expressions
Poor motor coordination
Trouble with multi-step instructions
Visual Perceptual/Visual Motor Deficit Affects interpreting visual information or drawing
Mistakes in writing, such as reversing letters
Too-tight grip on pencil or other writing tool
Poor hand/eye coordination
Dysmetria The inability to control the distance, speed, and range of motion necessary to
perform smoothly coordinated movements. Dysmetria is a sign of cerebellar
damage, and often presents along with additional signs, such as loss of balance
and poor coordination of walking, speech, and eye movements.
Dyspraxia A common disorder that affects movement and coordination. Dyspraxia does not
affect your intelligence. It can affect your coordination skills - such as tasks requiring
balance, playing sports or learning to drive a car.
, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) Brain dysfunction caused by an outside force, usually a violent blow to the head.
Traumatic brain injury often occurs as a result of a severe sports injury or car
accident.
Immediate or delayed symptoms may include confusion, blurry vision, and
concentration difficulty.
The continuum of placements, from least restrictive to regular classes, special schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals.
most restrictive
ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) Often referred to as an acquired brain injury, a non-traumatic brain injury causes
damage to the brain by internal factors, such as a lack of oxygen, exposure to
toxins, pressure from a tumor, etc. Examples of NTBI include:
Stroke
Near-drowning
Aneurysm
Tumor
Infectious disease that affects the brain (i.e., meningitis)
Lack of oxygen supply to the brain (i.e., heart attack)
Learned Helplessness occurs when an individual continuously faces a negative, uncontrollable situation
and stops trying to change their circumstances, even when they have the ability to
do so. For example, a smoker may repeatedly try and fail to quit.
Self-Acutualization Self-actualization, in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, is the highest level of
psychological development, where personal potential is fully realized after basic
bodily and ego needs have been fulfilled.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization
Intrinsic Movement/Motivation Intrinsic motivation is the act of doing something without any obvious external
rewards. You do it because it's enjoyable and interesting, rather than because of an
outside incentive or pressure to do it, such as a reward or deadline.
OT (Occupational Theray) a branch of health care that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or
cognitive problems. OT can help them regain independence in all areas of their
lives. Occupational therapists help with barriers that affect a person's emotional,
social, and physical needs.
PT (Physical Therapy) the treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage,
heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery.
Spina Bifida a condition that affects the spine and is usually apparent at birth. It is a type of
neural tube defect (NTD). Spina bifida can happen anywhere along the spine if the
neural tube does not close all the way.
Down Syndrome a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are small
"packages" of genes in the body. They determine how a baby's body forms and
functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth. Typically, a baby is born with
46 chromosomes.
Down syndrome causes a distinct facial appearance, intellectual disability,
developmental delays, and may be associated with thyroid or heart disease.
Cerebral Palsy (CP) a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and
posture. CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral means
having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the
muscles.
