Aspie Answers Glossaries

Support & Accommodation Terms Glossary (A–Z)

Clear, practical definitions for support and accessibility language used in schools, workplaces, health services, and everyday life — explained in calm, everyday words.

Gentle note

Some terms connect to disability, access needs, and support systems. If anything feels heavy or frustrating, it’s okay to pause. This page is here to make language feel clearer — not to overwhelm you.

This glossary is educational and not a substitute for professional advice.

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Accommodations Accessibility IEP Workplace Sensory Support plans

Tip: Use A–Z jump links or search to filter terms live.

Quick reference

Common accommodations (examples)

These are examples — not a “one size fits all” list. The best supports are personalised and flexible.

Area	Examples	Helps with	Notes
Learning / School	Extra time, quiet room, breaks, visual schedule, chunked instructions	Processing, focus, anxiety, fatigue	Ask for clarity: “What does success look like for this task?”
Workplace	Flexible hours, written instructions, reduced interruptions, task prioritising support	Executive function, overwhelm, sensory load	Consider a “check-in” structure rather than constant monitoring.
Sensory	Headphones, low lighting, seating choice, fidget tools, fragrance-free space	Overload, meltdowns, shutdowns	Offer options — don’t force one “sensory solution”.
Communication	Text/email option, processing time, agenda in advance, AAC supports	Speech, anxiety, comprehension	“Would you like this in writing?” is a powerful question.

NZ-friendly

Where support may show up (examples)

School supports: learning support, teacher aide hours, Individual Education Plan (IEP), classroom adjustments.
Work supports: workplace accommodations, flexible arrangements, job coaching, access support.
Disability & community supports: support workers, needs assessment, advocacy services, local community networks.

If you want, I can tailor this block to your exact NZ service pages once your directory links are final.

Letter A

Accessibility: Making spaces, information, and services easier to use for everyone. Example: “Captions make videos accessible to more people.”
Accommodation: A change that helps someone access learning, work, or services more fairly. Example: “Extra time is an accommodation for processing speed.”
Advocacy: Speaking up (for yourself or others) to get needs understood and rights respected. Example: “I advocated for written instructions.”
Alternative format: Information given in a different way (audio, large print, plain language, visual). Example: “Please send an alternative format: a summary in bullet points.”
Assistive technology (AT): Tools that help someone do tasks more easily (apps, text-to-speech, timers). Example: “A timer app helps me start tasks.”

Letter B

Barrier: Something that makes access harder (noise, unclear instructions, stairs, bias). Example: “Last-minute changes are a barrier for me.”
Break card: A simple signal a person can show to request a break without explaining. Example: “I used my break card before overload hit.”
Buddy system: Pairing with someone for support (navigation, tasks, check-ins). Example: “A buddy helps me remember steps during transitions.”

Letter C

Case management: Support that helps coordinate services and plans. Example: “My case manager helped connect me to community supports.”
Communication preference: How someone communicates best (text, email, face-to-face, AAC). Example: “My preference is email with clear bullet points.”
Co-regulation: When a calm person or environment helps someone regulate their nervous system. Example: “A steady voice helps me settle.”
Chunking: Breaking tasks into smaller steps. Example: “We chunked the assignment into 3 mini-deadlines.”
Captioning: Text on videos for accessibility. Example: “Captions help when audio processing is hard.”

Letter D

Disability support: Services or adjustments that reduce barriers and improve access. Example: “Disability support can include equipment, funding, or a support worker.”
Disclosure: Choosing to share (or not share) a diagnosis or access need. Example: “I disclosed so I could request accommodations.”
Documentation: Paperwork that shows needs or supports (letters, reports, plans). Example: “I asked for a short letter that explains my accommodations.”

Letter E

Equity: Fairness through giving people what they need (not the same for everyone). Example: “Equity means different supports for different needs.”
Executive functioning support: Help with planning, starting, remembering, organising, and finishing tasks. Example: “A weekly check-in helps with prioritising.”
Environmental adjustment: Changing the space to reduce barriers (lighting, seating, noise). Example: “We adjusted lighting to reduce headaches.”

Letter F

Flexible arrangement: A change in timing, location, or method to reduce barriers. Example: “Flexible hours help with fatigue and appointments.”
Functional needs: What helps someone do daily tasks (sleep, eating, routines, supports). Example: “My functional need is a quiet start to the day.”
Funding: Money support for services or equipment (varies by region/service). Example: “Funding can cover support hours or assistive tools.”

Letter G

Graded exposure: Practising a hard thing in small, manageable steps. Example: “We used graded exposure for school drop-off.”
Goal support: Help setting and reaching goals with realistic steps. Example: “My support plan includes weekly goal steps.”

Letter H

Health and safety adjustment: A change that improves wellbeing and reduces harm. Example: “A quiet room is a health and safety adjustment for sensory overload.”
Home learning / remote option: Learning or working from home as a support. Example: “Remote days help me recover from high-demand days.”

Letter I

IEP (Individual Education Plan): A plan that documents learning needs, goals, and supports at school. Example: “My IEP includes extra processing time and sensory breaks.”
Inclusion: Belonging and participation with barriers removed. Example: “Inclusion is adapting the environment, not forcing masking.”
Information processing time: Extra time to understand, decide, or respond. Example: “Please give me 10 seconds before repeating the question.”

Letter J

Job coaching: Support learning job tasks, routines, and workplace communication. Example: “A job coach helped me create step-by-step checklists.”
Joint planning: Planning together (person + school/work + family/supports). Example: “We did joint planning so everyone knew the same goals.”

Letter K

Key contact: A main person you can go to for updates and help. Example: “My key contact is the learning support coordinator.”
Key worker: A support person who helps coordinate care or services. Example: “My key worker helps organise appointments and referrals.”

Letter L

Learning support: Supports that help a student access education more fairly. Example: “Learning support includes scaffolds and accommodations.”
Low-demand approach: Reducing pressure to support safety and regulation. Example: “When overwhelmed, we shift to low-demand choices.”
List of needs: A simple document outlining supports that help you function. Example: “My list of needs includes quiet breaks and written instructions.”

Letter M

Modifications: Changing the task itself (not just how it’s done). Example: “A modified task might have fewer questions but same skill focus.”
Meeting accommodations: Changes that make meetings easier (agenda first, breaks, notes). Example: “Please send the agenda a day early.”
Multisensory supports: Using more than one sense (visual + auditory + hands-on). Example: “A diagram plus a demo helps me learn.”

Letter N

Needs assessment: A process to understand what supports are needed. Example: “A needs assessment looks at daily functioning and barriers.”
Neuro-affirming support: Support that respects neurodivergent traits instead of trying to erase them. Example: “A neuro-affirming approach supports stimming safely.”
Nonverbal / nonspeaking support: Supports for communication without speech (AAC, typing, visuals). Example: “Typing is my main communication method.”

Letter O

Occupational therapy (OT) supports: Supports for daily living, sensory processing, motor skills, routines. Example: “OT helped me build a morning routine.”
Option-based support: Offering choices so the person can pick what helps. Example: “Do you want headphones or a quiet corner?”

Letter P

Plan (Support plan): A document that outlines needs, strategies, and who does what. Example: “My plan includes sensory breaks and a calm-down script.”
Plain language: Clear wording that avoids jargon. Example: “Please explain that in plain language.”
Processing delay: When someone needs extra time to respond or act. Example: “Give me a moment — I’m processing.”
Preferred seating: Sitting where you can focus best (front/back/near exit). Example: “Near the door helps if I need a quick break.”

Letter Q

Quiet space: A low-stimulation area for regulation and breaks. Example: “I use the quiet space to prevent shutdown.”
Question prompts: Prepared sentence starters to ask for what you need. Example: “Can you show me an example of the finished task?”

Letter R

Reasonable accommodation: A support that is practical and helps access (wording varies by country/law). Example: “Written instructions are a reasonable accommodation.”
Routine support: Help building predictable structure. Example: “A visual timetable supports routine.”
Rest breaks: Short breaks to reduce fatigue and overload. Example: “I take 5 minutes every hour to reset.”

Letter S

Scaffolding: Extra supports that can be reduced as skills grow. Example: “A template is scaffolding for writing.”
Sensory accommodation: Changes that reduce sensory discomfort. Example: “No fragrance and softer lighting help me stay regulated.”
Social support: Support for connection, belonging, and communication. Example: “A lunchtime club helps me feel included.”
Strength-based approach: Focusing on what works well and building from there. Example: “We use my interest in animals to support learning.”

Letter T

Task analysis: Breaking a task into clear steps. Example: “We made a step-by-step list for packing my bag.”
Transition support: Help moving between activities/places. Example: “A 5-minute warning helps with transitions.”
Timetable / visual schedule: A visual plan of what happens and when. Example: “A visual schedule reduces anxiety.”

Letter U

Universal design: Designing systems that work for as many people as possible from the start. Example: “Offering captions benefits lots of learners.”
Understanding agreement: A shared plan about what supports will be used. Example: “We wrote an understanding agreement for meetings.”

Letter V

Visual supports: Pictures, icons, charts, or written cues that support understanding. Example: “A checklist helps me remember steps.”
Vocational support: Help with job readiness and work skills. Example: “Vocational support helped me practice interviews.”

Letter W

Workplace adjustment: A change at work that improves access and performance. Example: “A quieter desk location is a workplace adjustment.”
Written instructions: Steps provided in writing for clarity and memory support. Example: “Please email the instructions after our talk.”

Letter X

X-factor barrier: An unexpected factor that makes a task harder (noise, fatigue, change). Example: “The X-factor today was poor sleep, so I needed extra support.”

Letter Y

Yes/No options: Simple choices that reduce overwhelm. Example: “Yes/no options help me answer when I’m overloaded.”

Letter Z

Zone of regulation: A way of describing states (calm/alert/overwhelmed) to support self-regulation. Example: “I’m in the ‘too much’ zone — I need a quiet break.”

Thank you for learning with care

If you’d like, I can also add a “Request a Support” mini-template (copy/paste email wording) to the bottom of this page.

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