Acronym Decoder | Heartspring

By Nicole McLain

Oct 14 2015

As promised in the previous post, I am excited to help you decode the many and frequently used acronyms in the world of Autism Spectrum Disorders. While the list is extensive, it certainly is not all-encompassing, so if you have specific questions about an abbreviation you don’t find here or want more information on what each of these mean, please do not hesitate to send us an email at care@www.heartspring.org!

AAC = Assistive Augmentative Communication or Alternative Augmentative Communication	ABA = Applied Behavioral Analysis
ABC = Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence	ADA = American with Disabilities Act
ADOS = Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale	ASD = Autism Spectrum Disorder(s)
AYP = Adequate Yearly Progress	BIP = Behavior Intervention Plan
BOE = Board of Education	CD = Cognitive Disability
CDC = Center for Disease Control and Prevention	CEC = Council for Exceptional Children
DA = Developmental Age	DD = Developmental Delay
DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) by the American Psychiatric Association	DSM-V = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th edition) by the American Psychiatric Association
ECE = Early Childhood Education	ED = U.S. Department of Education
EHDI = Early Hearing Detection and Intervention	EI = Early Intervention
ELL = English Language Learner	ESD = Extended School Day
ESL = English as a Second Language	ESY = Extended School Year
FAPE = Free and Appropriate Public Education	FBA = Functional Behavioral Assessment
FERPA = Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act	GE = General Education
GT = Gifted and Talented	HI = Hearing Impaired
HoH = Hard of Hearing	HQT = Highly Qualified Teacher
IA = Instructional Assistant	ID = Intellectual Disabilities
IDEA = Individuals with Disabilities Education Act	IEE = Individualized Educational Evaluation
IEP = Individualized Education Program	IFSP = Individualized Family Service Plan
LD = Learning Disabled or Learning Disability	LEA = Local Education Agency
LEP = Limited English Proficiency	LRE = Least Restrictive Environment
MA = Mental Age	MD = Multiple Disabilities
MDR = Manifestation Determination Review	NCLB = No Child Left Behind Act (Elementary and Secondary Education Act)
NIH = National Institutes of Health	NIMH = National Institute of Mental Health
OCD= Obsessive Compulsive Disorder	ODD = Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OHI = Other Health Impairment	OSEP = Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education
OT = Occupational Therapy	PALS = Peer-Assisted Learning System
PBIS = Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports	PDD = Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PDD-NOS = Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified	PECS = Picture Exchange Communication System
PLEP or PLP = Present Level of Educational Performance	PT = Physical Therapy
RS = Related Services	RTI = Response to Intervention
SAS = Supplementary Aids and Services	SEAC = Special Education Advisory Committee
SED = Serious Emotional Disturbance	SI = Sensory Integration
SLD = Specific Learning Disability	SLP = Speech Language Pathologist
SPED or SE = Special Education	SPD = Sensory Processing Disorder
Stim = Self-Stimulatory Behaviors or “Stimming”