Word list

AAC

This means augmentative and alternative communication.

These are ways to communicate alongside speech or without speech.

They include signs, pictures and devices that speak.

Adaptive clothing

These clothes are designed to make dressing or wearing them easier.

They may have different openings or fastenings.

Your comfort and choice matter.

Advocate

An advocate helps you understand information and speak up.

They help people hear your wishes and views.

Aphasia

Aphasia affects understanding or using language.

It can happen after damage to the brain.

Sudden language problems can be a medical emergency.

Appropriate adult

They help protect someone’s rights during certain police procedures.

They are different from a solicitor.

Artificial intelligence or AI

AI is a type of computer technology.

Some tools write answers or suggest ideas.

Their answers can be wrong, so check important information.

Aspiration into the lungs

Aspiration means something enters your airway or lungs.

This can include food, drink or saliva.

It can happen without coughing.

Assessment and treatment unit or ATU

This is a type of specialist hospital unit.

It provides assessment and treatment for some people.

Hospital stays need a clear purpose and a discharge plan.

Assistive technology

This means equipment or software that helps with everyday tasks.

It might help you communicate, remember or get around.

Choose support that works for you.

Backup care plan

This says what to do if usual care cannot happen.

It should say who to contact and what help is needed.

Check that people have agreed to their roles.

Benefits appointee

An appointee manages benefits for someone who cannot manage them.

The benefits office must agree to the appointment.

This does not give control over all the person’s money.

Best interests

This is a way to make some decisions for someone.

It is used when they cannot make that decision themselves.

Their wishes, feelings and rights still matter.

Biopsy

A biopsy takes a small sample of tissue or cells.

Doctors examine the sample to find out what is happening.

Blissymbols

Blissymbols is a language made from shapes.

Shapes can mean things, actions and ideas.

People need time and support to learn and use them.

British Sign Language or BSL

BSL is a language with its own grammar.

People use their hands, face and body to communicate.

Ask for a qualified interpreter when you need one.

Campaign

A campaign brings people together to ask for change.

You can choose if and how you take part.

You do not have to share your private story.

Capacity

Capacity means being able to make a particular decision.

You should get any help you need to decide.

Your ability may change with the decision or the time.

Care Act

This law sets rules for adult care and support in England.

It includes rules about assessments and involving people.

Care plan

A care plan says what support you need.

It says how that support will be provided.

It should include what matters to you.

Carer’s leave

Some employees can take unpaid time off to give care.

It can also be used to arrange care.

The law sets rules about who can use it.

CETR and CTR

CTR means Care and Treatment Review.

CETR means Care, Education and Treatment Review.

These reviews check care and plans for life outside hospital.

CETRs also look at education and learning.

CHC

This means NHS Continuing Healthcare.

The NHS pays for care when an adult meets the rules.

The rules depend on the person’s assessed health needs.

CHC checklist

This helps decide whether you need a full CHC assessment.

It does not decide whether you get funding.

You should be involved and receive the written result.

Community learning disability team

This team brings together people with different professional skills.

They help with some learning disability health and support needs.

Ask how to contact the team in your area.

Consumer rights

These are rights when you buy things or services.

The rules depend on what you buy and how.

You can ask for help if something goes wrong.

Content creator

A content creator makes things for other people to enjoy.

They might share videos, pictures, stories or podcasts.

You can choose whose work you follow.

Continence and incontinence

Incontinence means leaking wee or poo without meaning to.

A bladder and bowel service can assess what is happening.

You can ask about treatment and support.

Contraception

Contraception helps prevent pregnancy.

There are different methods to choose from.

A clinician can help you understand your choices.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding asks many people to give money towards a goal.

You might raise money for yourself or someone else.

Check permission, costs and money rules before starting.

CTO or Community Treatment Order

A CTO allows some people to leave hospital with conditions.

Conditions are rules written in the order.

The care team can require a return to hospital in certain situations.

You can get help to understand and challenge the order.

Cuckooing

This means someone takes over a home for criminal activity.

They may threaten or pressure the person who lives there.

You can ask for help without confronting them.

Deafblindness

This means having both sight and hearing loss.

People may still have some sight and hearing.

They may need specialist communication and practical support.

Decision Support Tool or DST

This is a form used during a full CHC assessment.

Professionals bring together evidence about your needs.

They use it to help recommend whether you qualify.

Deputy

A court can appoint a deputy to make certain decisions.

This is for decisions you cannot make, even with support.

The court order says what the deputy can decide.

They must follow the rules about your wishes and best interests.

Dietitian

A dietitian helps with food, drink and nutrition.

Nutrition is how your body gets what it needs.

They can help plan support around your health and preferences.

Direct payment

This is money to arrange agreed care and support.

You must use it in the agreed way.

You can ask for help to manage it.

Disability-related expenditure or DRE

These are extra costs you have because of disability.

Some costs can reduce the amount you pay for council care.

Ask the council to consider your own circumstances.

Dosette box

This box separates medicines into different days or times.

Ask a pharmacist whether it suits your medicines and needs.

It is not right for everyone.

DSR

This means Dynamic Support Register.

It helps plan support to avoid unnecessary mental health hospital admissions.

It is different from the learning disability register at your GP.

Dwarfism and restricted growth

Different conditions can cause a person to be unusually short.

Some people use the term little person or dwarfism.

This does not automatically mean having a learning disability.

Use the words the person prefers.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing.

A health professional can assess swallowing and suggest support.

It is different from a problem with understanding language.

EHC plan or EHCP

This means Education, Health and Care plan.

It records a child or young person’s special educational needs.

It sets out the support they need.

Eviction

Eviction means making someone leave the home they rent.

There are rules about when and how this can happen.

Ask for housing advice as soon as possible.

Freedom of Information or FOI

You can ask public bodies for information they hold.

For example, you could ask about a council policy.

Some information cannot be shared.

Grant

A grant is money given for an agreed purpose.

The organisation sets rules about who can apply.

You must follow the conditions if it gives you money.

Harassment

Harassment can include unwanted behaviour that harms or frightens someone.

Different laws use different tests.

You can ask for help to understand what happened.

ICB

This means Integrated Care Board.

It is an NHS organisation for a local area.

It plans and pays for many local NHS services.

IMCA

This means Independent Mental Capacity Advocate.

An IMCA helps protect a person’s rights in certain decisions.

The law says when this support must be arranged.

IMHA

This means Independent Mental Health Advocate.

An IMHA helps some people understand their mental health rights.

The law says who can get this support.

They can help the person speak up about their care.

Independent sexual violence adviser or ISVA

An ISVA supports people affected by sexual violence.

They can explain services and the police or court process.

They are different from a solicitor.

Inheritance

This is money or property left when someone dies.

It can affect some benefits and care charges.

Get advice about your circumstances and reporting changes.

Insurance excess

An excess is money you pay towards an insurance claim.

Check the amount and conditions in your policy.

Intermediary

An intermediary helps with communication in legal proceedings.

They can help people understand questions and give their answers.

They do not give legal advice.

Keyworker

A keyworker helps services work together to support you.

Different keyworker services have different roles.

Ask what help your keyworker can provide.

Learning disability hospital liaison

This team helps hospital staff understand your support needs.

They can help plan changes that make care accessible.

Your ward team remains responsible for your hospital care.

LeDeR

LeDeR learns from the lives and deaths of some people.

These are people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

It aims to improve care and prevent avoidable deaths.

Legal aid

This is funding for some legal advice and representation.

The rules depend on the legal problem and your circumstances.

Ask a solicitor whether you can get it.

Life-limiting condition

This is a condition that may shorten someone’s life.

It does not always mean they are dying now.

Support can help them live as well as possible.

Makaton

Makaton uses signs and symbols alongside speech.

It can help some people communicate.

Ask the person which communication works for them.

Motability

Motability is a scheme for leasing vehicles.

You pay using a qualifying mobility benefit.

You can have approved people drive for you.

MP

MP means Member of Parliament.

Your MP represents the area where you live.

You can ask them about problems and issues that matter.

Multidisciplinary team or MDT

This is a team of professionals with different skills.

They work together to understand and support your needs.

You should be involved in decisions about your care.

Named driver

A named driver is listed on a vehicle’s insurance.

The insurer must agree before they drive.

They must follow the policy’s rules.

No recourse to public funds or NRPF

This immigration condition limits access to certain benefits and housing.

It does not mean every service is unavailable.

Get qualified advice about your rights and support.

Occupational therapist or OT

An occupational therapist helps you do things that matter.

They may suggest equipment or changes to your surroundings.

They can help make everyday activities easier.

Ombudsman

An ombudsman is an independent service for certain complaints.

It can look into some problems that remain unresolved.

Different ombudsmen cover different services.

Peer advocacy

Peer advocacy is support from someone with similar experiences.

They help you understand your choices and express your wishes.

You can ask what help their service provides.

Perimenopause

This is the time leading up to menopause.

Hormone changes can affect periods and how you feel.

Person-centred

This means starting with you and what matters to you.

Your choices, communication and support needs guide the plan.

Personal assistant or PA

A personal assistant helps with agreed parts of your life.

You may employ them to give your care and support.

Being an employer brings duties and responsibilities.

Personal budget

This is an amount of money for agreed care and support.

Your plan should explain how it will meet your needs.

Personal health budget or PHB

This is NHS money for agreed health and support needs.

You help plan how it will be used.

There are rules about who can get it.

Pharmacy First

This NHS service helps with certain illnesses.

A pharmacist checks your symptoms and explains the next step.

Ask whether your local pharmacy offers the service.

Phishing

These are fake messages pretending to be from someone trustworthy.

They may ask you to open a link or share information.

Pause and check using contact details you already trust.

PIP

This means Personal Independence Payment.

It is a benefit for extra costs linked to disability.

There are rules about who can get it.

PKU

PKU means phenylketonuria.

The body cannot properly process part of protein called phenylalanine.

A specialist team helps plan treatment and food.

PMLD

This means profound and multiple learning disabilities.

People have profound learning disabilities and other significant support needs.

Each person has their own ways of communicating.

Priority Services Register or PSR

Energy companies keep this list to arrange extra support.

Joining does not make your bills free.

Power cuts can still happen.

Psychiatrist

A psychiatrist is a doctor specialising in mental health.

They can assess mental health needs and discuss treatment.

They can prescribe medicines when appropriate.

Psychologist

A psychologist can help understand feelings, thinking and distress.

They may offer assessments and psychological therapies.

They can help others understand how to support you.

Reasonable adjustment

This is a change to help a disabled person access something.

For example, an appointment may need more time.

The right change depends on the person and the situation.

Red Bag hospital scheme

Some local services use a red bag for hospital transfers.

It keeps agreed information and belongings with the person.

Ask your care team about the local arrangements.

Respite

Respite is sometimes called a short break.

It gives a carer time away from caring.

The person they support still needs suitable care.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding means helping people stay safe from abuse and neglect.

Your wishes and rights matter when people help you.

Scam

A scam is a trick to steal money or information.

Scammers may pretend to be people or organisations you trust.

You can get help if this happens to you.

Screening

A screening test looks for possible health problems.

You can discuss whether to have it.

Sometimes you need more tests after screening.

Second medical opinion

This is another clinician’s view about diagnosis or treatment.

You can ask how to arrange one.

Getting one through the NHS is not always guaranteed.

Section 117 aftercare

This is support after certain Mental Health Act hospital stays.

The NHS and council arrange the support together.

You do not pay for support covered by section 117.

SEND

This means special educational needs and disabilities.

A child or young person may need extra support with learning.

Sexual assault referral centre or SARC

A SARC provides specialist help after rape or sexual assault.

It can help with medical care and evidence options.

Adults can usually contact a centre without reporting to police.

Sexually transmitted infection or STI

An STI is an infection that can pass through sexual contact.

Some infections do not cause symptoms.

A sexual health clinic can advise about tests and treatment.

Sign-supported English or SSE

This uses signs alongside spoken English.

The signs follow English word order.

It is different from British Sign Language.

SLT

This means speech and language therapy.

It can help with communication.

It can also help with eating, drinking and swallowing.

Solicitor

A solicitor is a lawyer.

They can explain your legal rights and give legal advice.

Ask about costs before agreeing to paid work.

Specific learning difficulty

This affects particular skills, such as reading or using numbers.

It is different from a learning disability.

A person can have both.

Subject access request or SAR

This asks an organisation for your personal information.

You can ask for help to make the request.

Some information may be withheld under legal rules.

Support broker

A support broker can help you plan and arrange support.

Ask what they do and whether you must pay.

You should stay in control of your choices.

Tenancy

A tenancy is an agreement about renting your home.

It sets out rights and responsibilities.

Your housing agreement is different from your support plan.

Trust fund

A trust has people managing money or property for others.

Different trusts have different rules.

A trust does not automatically protect benefits.

Vaccination

Vaccination helps protect against particular infections.

A clinician can explain which vaccines are suitable for you.

You can ask for support with the appointment.

Victimisation

Equality law protects people who raise or support equality complaints.

Victimisation means being disadvantaged because of that protected action.

Ask an adviser about your situation.

Visual stress

Some people feel discomfort when looking at text or patterns.

Ask an eye-care professional to check what is happening.

Coloured filters do not treat dyslexia.