Please note: The FAME glossary is not intended to be a completely comprehensive index of all disabilities or disability-related terminology. For a more complete listing, please consult the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), or the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition, Text Revised (DSM-IV TR), available in libraries and bookstores nationwide. Alternatively, you may also consult resources from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) or National Institutes of Health (NIH) publications. Please also see our Supplemental Resources pages in the Rights and Responsibilities module for more information.
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are "eligible students." Under FERPA, schools must generally afford students who are 18 years or over, or attending a postsecondary institution: 1) access to their education records; 2) an opportunity to seek to have the records amended; and 3) some control over the disclosure of information from the records.top
Fibromyalgia
A condition characterized by aching and pain in muscles, tendons, and joints all over the body, especially along the spine. The exact cause is not known. The condition is not associated with muscle, nerve, or joint injury; any serious bodily damage or disease; or inadequate muscle repair. Other symptoms often associated with the pain include: sleep disturbances, depression, daytime fatigue, feelings of weakness, headaches, alternating diarrhea and constipation, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, feelings of weakness, memory difficulties, and dizziness. Its symptoms resemble those of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).top
Flexible Schedule
Because of architectural barriers or use of adaptive transportation, some students may arrive late to class or need to leave early. Also, some students may miss class due to a chronic disability or treatment. It is essential not to penalize a student for his/her disability and at the same time maintain the integrity of the requirements of the class. Examples are, but not limited to: make-up tests and extended time for assignments.top
Focus Group
A selected set of people used to obtain information on a concept or to evaluate a program or product.top
Functional Limitations
Restrictions resulting from a disability which prevents an individual (without accommodations or auxiliary aids) from participating in major life activities including but not limited to walking, seeing, hearing, learning, etc.top
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Technique for determining which parts of the brain are activated by different types of physical sensation or activity, such as sight, sound or the movement of a subject's fingers. This "brain mapping" is achieved by setting up an advanced MRI scanner in a special way so that the increased blood flow to the activated areas of the brain shows up on Functional MRI scans.top
