These manuals all address the exceptionalities that are based on IQ - high or low. Adaptive ability is the ability to be able to use what one learns in one context in another context. Students who are gifted have a high adaptive ability and so they are able to use what they have learned in many different and creative ways.  However, students with a lower adaptive ability may need to be taught how to use what is learned in different contexts e.g. learning spelling lists but using those words when the students using them in written work.