ABCs of the Special Needs Community

If you have any ABCs of Special Needs to add... feel free to comment below and I'll add them in! :)

- A -

ABA: Applied Behavioral Analysis

ABC: Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (a method of tracking targeted behaviors)

ABI: Adaptive Behavior Inventory

ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder

ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

AIT: Auditory Integration Therapy

APD: Auditory Processing Disorder, also referred to as CAPD or Central Auditory Processing Disorder

APE: Adaptive Physical Education

ARD: Admission, Review, Dismissal (used in Texas)

AS: Asperger's Syndrome (a high-functioning form of Autism)

ASD: Autistic Spectrum Disorder

- B -

BD: Behavioral Disorder

BD/ED: Behavior Disordered / Emotionally Disturbed

BIP: Behavior Intervention Plan

BOE: Board of Education

BP: Bi-Polar (formerly called "manic-depressive")

- C -

CAPD: Central Auditory Processing Disorder, also referred to as APD, see above

CD: Conduct Disorder

CNS: Central Nervous System

CP: Cerebral Palsy

CSE: Committee for Special Education (called "MDT" in some states)

CSPD: Comprehensive System for Personnel Development

CST: Child Study Team (also called Child Find Team)

- D -

DAS: Differential Abilities Scales (an early childhood educational eval)

DD: Developmental Disabilities

Dx: Diagnosis

DOE: Department of Education

DS: Down Syndome

- E -

ECSE: Early Childhood Special Education

ED: Emotionally Disturbed

EI: Early Intervention

EPSDT: Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment

ESE: Exceptional Student Education

ESEA: Elementary & Secondary Education Act

ESL: English as a Second Language

ESY: Extended School Year

- F -

FAPE: Free Appropriate Public Education

FAS: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

FBA: Functional Behavior Anaylsis

FERPA: Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act

FOIA: Freedom Of Information Act

- G -

GAF: Global Assessment of Functioning scale (used in psychiatric evals to state level of functioning)

- H -

HFA: High Functioning Autism (such as Asperger's Syndrome)

HoH: Hard of Hearing

- I -

IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IEE: Independent Educational Evaluation

IEP: Individualized Education Plan

- J -

- K -

- L -

LD: Learning Disability

LEA: Local Education Agency (the school district)

LFA: Low-Functioning Autism (defined as autism occurring with mental retardation, e.g. w/ IQ lower than 70)

LLD: Language-based Learning Disability

LRE: Least Restrictive Environment

- M -

M-D: Manic Depression (now referred to as Bipolar)

MBD: Minimum Brain Dysfunction (what ADD/ADHD used to be referred to as)

MDO: Major Depressive Disorder

MDT: Multi-Disciplinary Team

MH: Multiple Handicapped

MH: Mental Health

MPD: Multiple Personality Disorder

MR: Mental Retardation, IQ < 70

- N -

NAMI: National Association for the Mentally Ill

NICHCY: National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities

NIH: National Institute for Health

NOS: Not Otherwise Specified, usually seen as PDD-NOS

NLD or NVLD: Non-Verbal Learning Disability

- O -

OCD: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

OCR: Office of Civil Rights

ODD: Oppositional-Defiant Disorder

OHI: Other Health Impaired

OSEP: Office of Special Education Programs (located Washington, DC)

OSERS: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

OT: Occupational Therapist

OT: Occupational Therapy

- P -

P&A: Protection & Advocacy

PDD: Pervasive Developmental Disorder (a form of Autism)

PDR: Physician's Desk Reference

PET: Positron Emission Tomography (Brain scan that can be used for diagnosis of Neurologically-based disorders)

PIQ: Performance IQ

PLEP: Present Levels of Educational Performance

PLOP: Present Levels of Performance

POHI: Physically or Otherwise Health Impaired

PT: Physical Therapist

PT: Physical Therapy

PTI: Parent Training and Information center

PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

- Q -

- R -

Rx: Prescription

- S -

SD: School District

SEA: State Education Agency

SED: Severe Emotional Disorder

SED: Severely Emotionally Disturbed

SID: Sensory Integration Dysfunction, also referred to as SI, or DSI

SIB: Self-Injurious Behavior

SIPT: Sensory Integration and Praxis Text

SLP: Speech-Language Pathologist

Sped: Special Education

SSRI: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (class of meds, incl. Prozac, Zoloft, Praxil, Luvox)

- T -

TEACCH: Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Disorders

TS: Tourette's Syndrome

TSS: Therapeutic Support Staff

- U -

- V -

VIQ: Verbal IQ

- W -

WAIS: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (an IQ test)

WISC: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (an IQ test)

W-J-R: Woodcock-Johnson Revised (a psycho-educational test)

- X -

- Y -

- Z -

WELCOME 2012

So.... New Years resolutions come and go. I never seem to be able to follow through with one. Whether it be weight loss, cussing less, more patience, etc. But, I do need to do all of these, so I'll move those over to the "Make Lifestyle Changes" column and try and follow through with them. However, I think setting an attainable goal is a good thing, so my New Years resolution will be....

Cook/bake/buy more culturally diverse foods. 

This one should be easily attainable. We started off the New Year with one.... homemade hummus with some store-bought naan (need to learn how to make it). I want my family to eat stuff other than tacos, spaghetti, burgers, and our normal dishes.

Oh, I thought of another one and this should make my fellow bloggers happy.....

Visit and comment on more like-minded blogs!


This is another one that should be more easily attainable. I've accumulated a list of blogs that I love to visit and read, but I hardly ever comment. That. Must. Change. NOW! :)

So, be looking for me to visit your blog and comment more often! :) Maybe we can reciprocate the linking to each other's blogs?

So BRING IT ON! :)

oh, and Happy New Year everyone! Live long, love much, be happy and prosper!