Jargon Buster - Hull Parent Carer Forum - Support and advice

Sometimes, when you talk to teachers or health workers about a child with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), you might hear lots of new words or letters that are hard to understand. To help you, we have made a simple list that explains what these words mean.

The words people like to use can change over time. We also know that everyone is different, and people choose their own words to describe themselves. What feels right for one person might not feel right for someone else.

Even if someone has a diagnosis, they might not want to be described by that diagnosis. People who work with children and young people with SEND say that it is often best to ask what words someone likes, instead of trying to avoid the topic. But remember, not everyone may want to talk about it.

Sometimes you might need to use very exact words, especially when you speak to professionals who help children with SEND. For example, if you are trying to get a diagnosis or support, you may hear very specific words that teachers or doctors use. These can sound confusing, which is why we have made this easy glossary to help explain them.

Different areas in the country sometimes use different words for the same thing. We have tried to make our list as helpful as possible, but some terms might not be included because they are called something else in other places.

Hull Parent Carer Forum have created this page of useful terms to help you make sense of the SEND language.