It is essential that all families participate actively in decisions related to their child’s education! The language and terminology that exists within Early Intervention and Special Education law is very complex and can be difficult to understand even in its original language of English.

It becomes even more difficult to translate terms to other languages, and to find consistency within translation. The OSEP English to Spanish Translation Glossary aims to make the understanding and translation of Special Education terms from English to Spanish more uniform and comprehensive.

The OSEP Spanish Glossary includes a set of agreed upon translations from English to Spanish of more than 200 education and disability related terms. 

The glossary was developed collaboratively and included the perspectives of Parent Centers and families who represent various Spanish speaking backgrounds and home countries. Additionally, each family had children with disabilities receiving either Early Intervention (0-3 years old) or Special Education (3-21 years old) services. 

The online and print OSEP Spanish Glossary was funded by the U.S. Department of Edcucation Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) between 2010-2011. The glossary was developed by SPAN, New Jersey’s Parent Training and Information Center.