Glossary & plain‑English definitions

A 504 plan is a US school plan that lists accommodations for a student. It helps remove barriers to learning.

ADHD is a way some people experience attention, activity level, and impulse control differently. It can make starting, focusing, or finishing tasks harder in some settings.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference that can affect communication, sensory processing, and routines. People experience it in many different ways.

Attention regulation is the ability to start, stay with, and shift attention when needed. It can vary with stress, noise, or interest.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry or unease. It can show up in the body as tension, fast breathing, or restlessness.

Assistive technology is any tool that helps people access learning or tasks. Examples include text‑to‑speech or speech‑to‑text.

Attention switching is moving focus from one task to another. It can feel harder when you are tired or stressed.

Attention fatigue is tiredness from sustained focus. It can make tasks feel harder and reduce accuracy.

Auditory sensitivity is a strong reaction to sound. Loud or unpredictable noise can feel intense or stressful.

Assistive reading uses tools to make reading easier, such as audio or text‑to‑speech. It improves access without changing goals.

Burnout is deep exhaustion after long‑term stress. It can reduce energy, focus, and enjoyment.

Box breathing is a breathing pattern with equal counts for inhale, hold, exhale, and hold. It can help steady focus.

Breath counting is a simple way to keep attention on breathing. It can support focus and calm.

Break planning is choosing short, helpful breaks before you need them. It makes returning to tasks easier.

Body doubling is doing a task alongside another person. The shared presence can make starting and staying on task easier.

Co‑regulation is when another person helps you feel calm and steady. It can be a calm voice, presence, or shared routine.

Coherent breathing is slow, steady breathing at a comfortable pace. It can help calm the body and mind.

Comprehension means understanding what you read. It includes remembering details and making sense of the story or text.

The CDC is a US public health agency that publishes guidance and research summaries.

Co‑occurring means more than one condition or profile is present at the same time. It can change support needs.

Communication is how people share thoughts, needs, and feelings. It can be spoken, written, or non‑verbal.

A calm routine is a short set of steps that helps you feel steadier. It can include breathing, stretching, or quiet time.

Checklists are step‑by‑step lists for tasks. They help you track progress and reduce memory load.

Coping strategies are helpful actions for managing stress or overwhelm. They can be quick and practical.

A calm corner is a quiet space for regulation. It helps people reset during stress or overload.

Dyslexia is a learning difference that can make reading, spelling, and word recognition harder. It is not linked to intelligence.

Dyspraxia, or DCD, can make coordination and planning movements more difficult. It can also affect organisation and writing stamina.

Dyscalculia is a learning difference that can make number sense and maths steps harder. It can affect estimating, timing, and calculations.

Dysgraphia is a learning difference that makes writing slower or more tiring. It can affect handwriting, spelling, and organising ideas on paper.

Decoding is turning written letters into sounds to read a word. It is a key part of early reading.

Disclosure is sharing information about support needs with someone else. It can help access accommodations or understanding.

Decision fatigue is feeling tired from making many choices. It can make even small decisions feel hard.

De‑escalation is reducing intensity during stress or conflict. It often involves calm language and giving space.

Executive function is the set of skills that help you plan, start, and finish tasks. It includes organising, switching focus, and managing impulses.

Executive dysfunction means the skills that manage planning and task‑starting are harder to use in that moment. It is about brain load, not effort.

Emotional regulation is the ability to notice feelings and manage them in a helpful way. It helps people recover after stress or overwhelm.

Extended exhale means breathing out a little longer than you breathe in. It can help the body feel calmer.

Executive planning is breaking goals into steps and deciding the order. It helps make large tasks feel manageable.

Evidence‑based means a practice is supported by research and good quality evidence. It does not mean it works the same for everyone.

An emotional check‑in is a quick way to notice how you are feeling. It can help you choose a helpful next step.

Executive skills are the practical skills that help you plan, start, and finish tasks. They include prioritising and staying organised.

Emotional support helps people feel safe, understood, and steadier. It can include calm language, check‑ins, or reassurance.

Executive function coaching is support for planning, organisation, and follow‑through skills. It focuses on practical strategies.

Focus sprints are short, timed work blocks with planned breaks. They make tasks feel manageable and reduce overwhelm.

Reading fluency means reading with accuracy and a comfortable pace. It makes reading feel smoother.

Fidget tools are small objects used for movement or sensory input. They can help some people focus or stay calm.

A focus cue is a signal that helps you start focusing. It could be a timer, music, or a short breathing reset.

A focus reset is a short routine that helps you refocus. It can include breathing, stretching, or a quick walk.

Focus support includes strategies that help you start and stay with tasks. Timers, cues, and breaks are common tools.

Grounding techniques help bring attention back to the present moment. They often use breathing or the five senses.

Hyperfocus is intense concentration on a task or interest. It can feel absorbing and make it hard to switch tasks.

Hydration breaks are short pauses to drink water. They help maintain energy and focus.

An IEP is a plan that outlines supports and goals for a learner who needs extra help. It is used in US schools.

Interoception is awareness of internal body signals such as hunger, thirst, or stress. It helps you notice how you feel inside.

Inclusive language respects different experiences and avoids assumptions. It helps people feel safe and seen.

A learning cluster is a group of related topics or guides. It helps people explore a theme step by step.

Learning confidence is feeling capable and safe while learning. It grows through encouragement and achievable steps.

Learning differences are different ways of learning and processing information. They are not about intelligence.

Masking is when someone hides or changes behaviours to fit in. It can be exhausting and affect wellbeing.

A meltdown is an intense response to overwhelm. It can look like crying, shouting, or shutting down and is not deliberate behaviour.

Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment with kindness. It can be as simple as noticing your breath.

Multisensory learning uses more than one sense at a time, such as seeing, hearing, and moving. It can improve memory and engagement.

Math support includes strategies that make maths clearer and more manageable. Visual steps and real‑world examples can help.

Movement breaks are short bursts of movement that reset energy and attention. They can be as simple as stretching.

NICE is a UK body that provides evidence‑based guidance for health and care. It helps set standards for good practice.

The NIH is a US agency that funds medical and health research. It provides research summaries and resources.

Note‑taking is recording key information in a usable way. It can be text, bullets, or visual summaries.

Neurodiversity means there is natural variation in how brains work. Different ways of thinking are part of human diversity.

Neurodivergent describes people whose brains work differently from typical expectations. It includes profiles like ADHD or autism.

Neurotypical describes people whose brains match typical expectations. It is a descriptive term, not a value judgement.

Overwhelm is a feeling of being overloaded by tasks, emotions, or sensory input. It can make thinking and decision‑making harder.

Organisation is keeping tasks, spaces, or ideas ordered. Simple systems can make this much easier.

Occupational therapy supports everyday skills for home, school, or work. It can include routines, sensory strategies, and practical tools.

Organisation strategies are practical ways to keep tasks and information in order. Examples include checklists and labelled spaces.

Processing speed is how quickly your brain takes in and uses information. Some people need a little more time to respond or switch tasks.

The planning fallacy is underestimating how long tasks will take. It can lead to rushed or late work.

Phonics is the link between sounds and letters. It helps people decode and read words more confidently.

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear and work with sounds in words. It helps with reading and spelling.

Peer review is when research is checked by other experts before publication. It helps catch errors and improve quality.

Parenting support includes routines and strategies that help families feel steadier. It can include calm language and predictable steps.

Proprioception is your sense of where your body is in space. It helps with balance, movement, and coordination.

Priority setting is deciding what matters most first. It helps reduce overwhelm and decision fatigue.

Rejection sensitivity is a strong emotional reaction to real or perceived criticism. It can make feedback feel very intense.

Routines are repeated steps that make tasks easier to start and finish. They reduce decision fatigue.

Reading confidence is feeling safe and capable when reading. It grows with encouragement and manageable practice.

Reasonable adjustments (UK) or accommodations (US) are changes that make learning or work more accessible. They reduce barriers without changing goals.

Reading support includes strategies that make reading easier and more comfortable. Short sessions and encouragement help.

Self‑regulation means using your own strategies to stay calm and focused. It can include breathing, movement, or quiet time.

Stimming is a self‑stimulating movement or sound that helps someone regulate. It can include rocking, fidgeting, or humming.

Sensory overload happens when sights, sounds, or sensations feel too intense. It can lead to shutdowns or meltdowns.

Sensory seeking means looking for extra sensory input, like movement or pressure. It can help someone feel regulated.

Sensory avoiding means trying to reduce or escape strong sensory input. People may seek quiet or predictable spaces.

Sensory differences mean people experience sights, sounds, or touch differently. Some inputs can feel stronger, weaker, or unpredictable.

A shutdown is a withdrawn response to overwhelm. Someone may become very quiet, still, or unable to communicate.

Stress is the body’s response to pressure or demand. A little can help focus, but too much can feel overwhelming.

Sleep hygiene refers to habits that support better sleep. It includes routines, light, and winding down.

A sleep routine is a consistent set of steps before bed. It helps signal that sleep is coming.

Social stories are short narratives that explain social situations or expectations. They help people prepare for changes or new events.

SEND is the UK term for special educational needs and disabilities. It covers support for learners who need extra help at school.

A SENCO is a UK school role that coordinates special educational needs support. They help plan and review adjustments.

Safeguarding means keeping people safe from harm and knowing how to get help when needed. It is about safety and support.

Self‑advocacy means speaking up for your needs and preferences. It can help people access the right support.

A sensory kit is a small set of items that help with sensory regulation. It might include headphones, fidgets, or a water bottle.

Speech and language therapy supports communication, language, and social interaction skills. It can help with understanding and expressing ideas.

School support includes adjustments that help students access learning. It can include extra time, quiet spaces, or assistive tools.

Sensory overwhelm is another way to describe sensory overload. It is when inputs feel too intense or too many.

Sleep pressure is the natural build‑up of tiredness across the day. It helps the body feel ready for sleep at night.

A sensory break is a short pause to reduce sensory load. It might involve quiet space, movement, or breathing.

Sensory regulation is managing sensory input to feel steady and focused. It can include movement, quiet spaces, or sensory tools.

Sensory‑friendly means designed to reduce sensory overload. It often includes lower noise, softer lighting, and clear structure.

Sensory processing is how the brain takes in and interprets sensory input. It affects comfort, focus, and energy.

Study skills are strategies that make studying more effective and less stressful. They include planning, reviewing, and taking breaks.

Screen breaks are short pauses away from screens. They reduce eye strain and help reset attention.

Self‑esteem is how you feel about yourself. Supportive feedback and small wins can help build it.

Strengths‑based means focusing on strengths and capabilities, not only challenges. It helps build confidence and motivation.

A structured routine is a routine with clear steps and timing. It reduces decision fatigue and supports follow‑through.

Task initiation is the ability to start a task. Many people need a clear, small first step to begin.

Time blindness is difficulty sensing how much time has passed or how long tasks will take. It can lead to rushing or running late.

Transitions are switches between activities or environments. They can be challenging when they are sudden or unclear.

Time management is planning how you use time so tasks feel manageable. Timers and buffers can help.

A time buffer is extra time added to reduce pressure. It helps when tasks take longer than expected.

Tactile sensitivity is a strong reaction to touch or textures. Certain fabrics or contact can feel uncomfortable.

Task switching is moving between tasks or priorities. Frequent switching can reduce focus and increase fatigue.

The NHS is the UK’s National Health Service. It provides public healthcare and information resources.

A visual timetable (or visual schedule) shows steps or activities using pictures or short text. It helps people know what happens next.

Visual supports are cues like icons, charts, or schedules that help understanding. They reduce the need to remember instructions.

Vestibular input is the sense of movement and balance. It comes from the inner ear and affects how steady we feel.

Visual sensitivity is a strong reaction to light, glare, or visual clutter. Bright or busy spaces can feel overwhelming.

Visual reminders are visible cues that prompt action. They make tasks easier to remember.

Working memory is your ability to hold information in mind while you use it. It helps with instructions, problem solving, and remembering steps.

Writing support includes strategies and tools that make writing easier. It can reduce fatigue and improve clarity.

Working memory strategies reduce how much you need to hold in mind. They include checklists, timers, and visual cues.

Workplace support includes adjustments or routines that make work more accessible. It can improve focus and reduce stress.