WGU C847 Fundamentals of Diversity,
Inclusion, and Exceptional Learners
Questions and Answers
Exceptional Children ✔✔inclusive term generally referring to individuals who differ from
societal or community standards of normalcy
Disability ✔✔inability or reduced ability to perform a task in a specific way; a limitation
imposed on an individual by a loss or reduction of functioning
Handicap ✔✔the impact or consequence of a disability, not the condition itself; also can reflect
attitudinal limitations imposed on the person with the disability by people without disabilities
Handicapism ✔✔the unequal and differential treatment experienced by those with a disability
developmental delay ✔✔A term defined by individual states referring to children ages 3 to 9
who perform significantly below developmental norms
at-risk ✔✔individuals who, although not yet identified as having a disability, have a high
probability of manifesting a disability because of harmful biological, environmental, or genetic
conditions
Special Education ✔✔customized instructional program designed to meet the unique needs of an
individual learner by use of specialized materials, equipment, services, and/or teaching strategies
,related services ✔✔integral part of a student's special education such as speech-language
pathologists, social workers, and occupational therapists that allow the learner to obtain benefit
from his or her special education
Public Law (PL) 108-446 (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004)
✔✔identifies the following thirteen categories of disability:
• Autism
• Deaf-blindness
• Developmental delay
• Emotional disturbance
• Hearing impairments including deafness
• Mental retardation
• Multiple disabilities
• Orthopedic impairments
• Other health impairments
• Specific learning disabilities
• Speech or language impairments
• Traumatic brain injury
• Visual impairments including blindness
, incidence ✔✔number of new instances of a disability occurring within a given time frame,
usually a year
prevalence ✔✔the total number of individuals with a particular disability existing in the
population at a given time;expressed as a percentage of the population exhibiting this specific
exceptionality
PL 99-457 ✔✔federal law mandating that youngsters between 3 and 5 years of age receive the
same special educational services and legal protections as their school-age counterparts, or else
states would risk the loss of significant federal financial support
Jacob Rodrigues Pereine ✔✔Introduced the idea that persons who were deaf could be taught to
communicate. Developed an early form of sign language. Provided inspiration and
encouragement for the work of Itard and Seguin.
Philippe Pinel ✔✔A reform-minded French physician who was concerned with the humanitarian
treatment of individuals with mental illness. Advocated releasing institutionalized patients from
their chains. Pioneered the field of occupational therapy. Served as Itard's mentor.
Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard ✔✔A French doctor who secured lasting fame because of his
systematic efforts to educate an adolescent thought to be severely mentally retarded. Recognized
the importance of sensory stimulation. "The father of Special Education"
Thomas Gallaudet ✔✔Taught children with hearing impairments to communicate through a
system of manual signs and symbols. Established the first institution in the United States.
Inclusion, and Exceptional Learners
Questions and Answers
Exceptional Children ✔✔inclusive term generally referring to individuals who differ from
societal or community standards of normalcy
Disability ✔✔inability or reduced ability to perform a task in a specific way; a limitation
imposed on an individual by a loss or reduction of functioning
Handicap ✔✔the impact or consequence of a disability, not the condition itself; also can reflect
attitudinal limitations imposed on the person with the disability by people without disabilities
Handicapism ✔✔the unequal and differential treatment experienced by those with a disability
developmental delay ✔✔A term defined by individual states referring to children ages 3 to 9
who perform significantly below developmental norms
at-risk ✔✔individuals who, although not yet identified as having a disability, have a high
probability of manifesting a disability because of harmful biological, environmental, or genetic
conditions
Special Education ✔✔customized instructional program designed to meet the unique needs of an
individual learner by use of specialized materials, equipment, services, and/or teaching strategies
,related services ✔✔integral part of a student's special education such as speech-language
pathologists, social workers, and occupational therapists that allow the learner to obtain benefit
from his or her special education
Public Law (PL) 108-446 (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004)
✔✔identifies the following thirteen categories of disability:
• Autism
• Deaf-blindness
• Developmental delay
• Emotional disturbance
• Hearing impairments including deafness
• Mental retardation
• Multiple disabilities
• Orthopedic impairments
• Other health impairments
• Specific learning disabilities
• Speech or language impairments
• Traumatic brain injury
• Visual impairments including blindness
, incidence ✔✔number of new instances of a disability occurring within a given time frame,
usually a year
prevalence ✔✔the total number of individuals with a particular disability existing in the
population at a given time;expressed as a percentage of the population exhibiting this specific
exceptionality
PL 99-457 ✔✔federal law mandating that youngsters between 3 and 5 years of age receive the
same special educational services and legal protections as their school-age counterparts, or else
states would risk the loss of significant federal financial support
Jacob Rodrigues Pereine ✔✔Introduced the idea that persons who were deaf could be taught to
communicate. Developed an early form of sign language. Provided inspiration and
encouragement for the work of Itard and Seguin.
Philippe Pinel ✔✔A reform-minded French physician who was concerned with the humanitarian
treatment of individuals with mental illness. Advocated releasing institutionalized patients from
their chains. Pioneered the field of occupational therapy. Served as Itard's mentor.
Jean-Marc Gaspard Itard ✔✔A French doctor who secured lasting fame because of his
systematic efforts to educate an adolescent thought to be severely mentally retarded. Recognized
the importance of sensory stimulation. "The father of Special Education"
Thomas Gallaudet ✔✔Taught children with hearing impairments to communicate through a
system of manual signs and symbols. Established the first institution in the United States.
