SEND Jargon buster

When you have additional needs, you sometimes need reasonable adjustments and support to help you use services in the city. Accessibility is making sure that the support you need is available.

Advocacy means getting support from another person to help you express your views and wishes, and help you stand up for your rights. Someone who helps you in this way is called your advocate.

Annual health checks are for people with a learning disability who are over 14 years old. They are carried out by a doctor or nurse once a year. Annual Health Checks are a chance for a doctor or nurse, the person with a learning disability and those who support them (if wanted) to review a person’s physical and mental health.

This is a paper or online form that an employer may ask you to fill out if you apply for a job with them. It usually includes a list of questions, some will be about you and others will be about any experience you may have that would help you to do the job that you are applying for.

An apprenticeship is where you mix work-based experience with training. Anyone aged 16 or above can do an apprenticeship and you can gain a qualification and earn money at the same time.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave.

This is money that you are entitled to from services like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance.

Learning how to use money and pay your bills.

A continuing care package will be required when a child or young person has needs arising from disability, accident or illness that cannot be met by existing universal or specialist services alone.

CAMHS is the name for the NHS services that assess and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties. You might also see CYPMHS used which stands for Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services.

NHS continuing healthcare is a package of care for people who are assessed as having a 'primary health need'. It's arranged and funded by the NHS.

A Curriculum Vitae is a short, written list of your skills , achievements and any work related experience you may have gained. You can use this when you are applying for work.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a social security benefit in the United Kingdom paid to eligible claimants who have personal care and/or mobility needs as a result of a mental or physical disability. It is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit. When you reach 16 years old, Disability Living Allowance ends and you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). You will have to reapply to the Department of Work and Pensions to confirm if you are eligible for PIP.

This is an Education, Health and Care Plan for children and young people up to 25 years old and it is normally written by the local authority with you and your family and it helps you to get any extra support that you may need.

General practitioners (GPs) are doctors who treat all common medical conditions. Your GP should usually be your first point of call for all medical questions. You need to be registered with a GP practice to book appointments.

This is a document that can help you to get into employment if you have a disability or a condition that may make it more difficult for you to work. It shows any reasonable adjustments that you may need in a work place and you can apply to get one from the DWP.

This is the money that goes into your bank account, when you get paid from your job or from other income like benefits.

Learning how to travel around the city on your own on buses, in taxis or trains.

This is when you meet with a possible employer to talk in more detail about your application and the job you have applied for.

A list of jobs in your local area that is updated and available to look at or sent out at regular intervals, normally weekly or fortnightly.

Someone with a learning disability might take longer to learn new things or understand complex information. They may learn in a different way, or need information presented to them in lots of different ways.

A medication is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat medical conditions or prevent disease.

This is when you are able to make decisions by yourself without support from your family. You can request support from an independent advocate to make sure you can share your own views about the support you receive.

This is the next step after you finish school. You may be continuing your education by going to college or doing a supported internship or an apprenticeship.

Planning for the future, experiencing life changes and gaining skills and knowledge for independence is an important time in any young person's life. The term 'preparing for adulthood' is used to describe the time in your life as you move from being a child to an adult and can start from year 9.

Travel by bus, taxi or train.

An amount or supply of something that you can access and use.

A scheme is a plan or a program of action that can help you to do what you want to do.

As you get older and start to have sexual relationships, it’s important to understand how your body works and talk about this with your parents/your doctors or someone you trust about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases.

These are groups that encourage you to get involved with meeting new people, visiting different places and trying new activities.

Going out to see your friends and friends or to do activities, such as the cinema, sports, shopping or for a walk.

A supported internship is where a placement is found for you in an area of work that you would like to do, a job coach will support you to attend and engage with your placement where you will learn specific tasks that will help you to get employment in a role that you are interested in.

Supported living or supportive living refers to a range of services and community living arrangements designed with individuals with disabilities and their families to support citizens with disabilities to attain or retain their independence or interdependence in their local communities. 

Transition is the process that you go through when you get older and move into adulthood.

You can travel round the city and local areas using various types of transport, such as buses, trains, taxis.

A vaccine is a medical treatment that helps your body's immune system recognize and fight disease. Vaccines are injections (shots), liquids, pills, or nasal sprays that you take to teach your body's immune system to recognize and defend against harmful germs.

Doing voluntary work or volunteering means that you offer to work within a setting, often retail or care. You wont get paid but it is an opportunity to learn valuable skills and often leads to paid employment.

Wages are the money you get paid, normally once a month from the people that you work for.