DCF SPECIAL NEEDS ACADEMIC READINESS
SUPPLEMENT 2026 APPLICATION GUIDANCE
FULL SCENARIOS AND ASSOCIATED
OUTPUTS
ADA means. Answer: Federal law that prohibits discriminiation based
upon mental or physical disability.
◉ Disability means. Answer: The result of any physical or mental
condition that affects or prevents one's ability to develop, achieve,
and/or function in an educational setting at a normal rate.
◉ IDEA means. Answer: Federal law that requires all states to
provide a free appropriate education to eligible children and youth
with disabilities.
◉ Inclusion means. Answer: The philosophy that all children have
the right to be included with their peers in all age appropriate
activities throughout life; accommodating all students in the natural
environments they would otherwise be in if not a child with special
needs.
◉ Mainsteaming. Answer: Children with special needs - based in
special education class settings - earn the right to join peers in typical
education classes by demonstrating ability to "keep up" with
workload. Usually limited to the one or two subject areas at which the
child excels. This term is no longer
,used.
◉ Multidisciplinary. Answer: A team approach involving specialists
from more than
one discipline, such as a team made up of a physical therapist, a
speech and language pathologist, a child development specialist, an
occupational therapist, or other specialists as needed.
◉ Natural Environment. Answer: (Caring for a child with special
needs in) home and
community settings in which children without disabilities participate;
the day-to-day settings, routines and activities that promote learning
for all children. Also, incorporating therapeutic activities into daily
activities to avoid disturbing the normal daily routine of the child.
◉ Related services. Answer: Transportation and development,
corrective and other support services that are required by a child with
special needs in order for them to benefit from education. Examples
include speech/language pathology and audiology, psychological
services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, counseling
services, interpreters for those with hearing impairments, medical
services for diagnostic and evaluation purposes and assistive
technology devices and services.
◉ Student with disability. Answer: Children whose development or
health is viewed
, by parents and professionals as atypical. This includes children with
mental, physical, sensory, emotional/ behavioral, medical and other
special needs.
◉ Support Services. Answer: Agencies and organizations that offer
various types
of educational and ancillary resources for children with special needs
and their families. Agencies such as Head Start, Agency for Persons
with Disabilities, Subsidized Child Care, Child Care Resource and
Referral Network and Florida Directory of Early Childhood Services
Central Directory Network, and Children's Forum offering a variety
of related services
◉ Transdisciplinary. Answer: A model that uses teaching, learning,
and sharing of
information across disciplinary boundaries enabling one team
member, along with the family, to carry out intervention strategies for
a child with special needs.
◉ People First Language give appropriate term from this
inappropriate term: "Handicapped People". Answer: Person with a
disabiity or special needs
◉ People First Language give appropriate term from this
inappropriate term: "Crippled". Answer: Person with a physical
disability
SUPPLEMENT 2026 APPLICATION GUIDANCE
FULL SCENARIOS AND ASSOCIATED
OUTPUTS
ADA means. Answer: Federal law that prohibits discriminiation based
upon mental or physical disability.
◉ Disability means. Answer: The result of any physical or mental
condition that affects or prevents one's ability to develop, achieve,
and/or function in an educational setting at a normal rate.
◉ IDEA means. Answer: Federal law that requires all states to
provide a free appropriate education to eligible children and youth
with disabilities.
◉ Inclusion means. Answer: The philosophy that all children have
the right to be included with their peers in all age appropriate
activities throughout life; accommodating all students in the natural
environments they would otherwise be in if not a child with special
needs.
◉ Mainsteaming. Answer: Children with special needs - based in
special education class settings - earn the right to join peers in typical
education classes by demonstrating ability to "keep up" with
workload. Usually limited to the one or two subject areas at which the
child excels. This term is no longer
,used.
◉ Multidisciplinary. Answer: A team approach involving specialists
from more than
one discipline, such as a team made up of a physical therapist, a
speech and language pathologist, a child development specialist, an
occupational therapist, or other specialists as needed.
◉ Natural Environment. Answer: (Caring for a child with special
needs in) home and
community settings in which children without disabilities participate;
the day-to-day settings, routines and activities that promote learning
for all children. Also, incorporating therapeutic activities into daily
activities to avoid disturbing the normal daily routine of the child.
◉ Related services. Answer: Transportation and development,
corrective and other support services that are required by a child with
special needs in order for them to benefit from education. Examples
include speech/language pathology and audiology, psychological
services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, counseling
services, interpreters for those with hearing impairments, medical
services for diagnostic and evaluation purposes and assistive
technology devices and services.
◉ Student with disability. Answer: Children whose development or
health is viewed
, by parents and professionals as atypical. This includes children with
mental, physical, sensory, emotional/ behavioral, medical and other
special needs.
◉ Support Services. Answer: Agencies and organizations that offer
various types
of educational and ancillary resources for children with special needs
and their families. Agencies such as Head Start, Agency for Persons
with Disabilities, Subsidized Child Care, Child Care Resource and
Referral Network and Florida Directory of Early Childhood Services
Central Directory Network, and Children's Forum offering a variety
of related services
◉ Transdisciplinary. Answer: A model that uses teaching, learning,
and sharing of
information across disciplinary boundaries enabling one team
member, along with the family, to carry out intervention strategies for
a child with special needs.
◉ People First Language give appropriate term from this
inappropriate term: "Handicapped People". Answer: Person with a
disabiity or special needs
◉ People First Language give appropriate term from this
inappropriate term: "Crippled". Answer: Person with a physical
disability
