Acronyms and Special Education

I just received a phone call from a parent wanting to know what did ADA stand for. As I told her, I thought to myself that if she didn't know this familiar acronym, then maybe others don't know either.

So, with that in mind, I found several acronyms that might help all of us as we travel through our each unique paths of special education.

This all comes from the FAPE-Families and Advocates partnership for Education. Their website is www.fape.org

Acronym----------------Term
* AAC-------------Alternative Augmentative Communication
* ADA-------------Americans with Disabilities Act
* ADD/ADHD---Attention Deficit/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
* ADLs------------Activities of Daily Living
* ADR-------------Alternative Dispute Resolution
* APE-------------Adaptive Physical Education
* ARD-------------Admission, Review, and Dismissal Committee
* ASL-------------American Sign Language
* AT--------------Assistive Technology
* BD--------------Behavioral Disorder
* CA--------------Chronological Age
* CAP-------------Corrective Action Plan
* CAPD------------Central Auditory Processing Disorder
* CF--------------Cystic Fibrosis
* CFR-------------Code of Federal Regulations
* CP--------------Cerebral Palsy
* CSPD------------Comprehensive System of Personnel Development
* CST-------------Child Study Team
* DB--------------Deaf-Blind
* DD--------------Developmental Delay
* DD Act----------Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill or Rights Act
* DoDDS-----------Department of Defense Dependent Schools
* DS--------------Down Syndrome
* DSM-------------Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the
American Psychiatric Association

* ECE-------------Early Childhood Education
* ED--------------Emotional Disturbance
* EDGAR-----------Education Department General Administrative Regulations
* EHA-------------Education of the Handicapped Act (now IDEA)
* EI--------------Early Intervention
* EMH-------------Educable Mentally Handicapped
* EMR-------------Educable Mentally Retarded
* EPSDT-----------Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
* ESD-------------Extended School Day
* ESEA------------Elementary and Secondary Education Act
* ESL-------------English as a Second Language
* ESY or EYS------Extended School Year or Extended Year Services
* FAPE------------Free Appropriate Public Education; Families and Advocates
Partnership for Education

* FAS-------------Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
* FBA-------------Functional Behavioral Assessment
* FC--------------Facilitated Communication
* FEOG------------Full Educational Opportunity Goal
* FERPA-----------Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
* FOIA------------Freedom of Information Act
* GE--------------General Education
* GT--------------Gifted and Talented
* HI--------------Hearing Impaired
* HO--------------Hearing Officer
* IA--------------Instructional Assistant
* IAES------------Interim Alternative Educational Setting
* IDEA------------Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
* IEE-------------Individualized Educational Evaluation
* IEP-------------Individualized Education Program
* IFSP------------Individualized Family Service Plan
* IHE-------------Institution of Higher Education
* ITP-------------Individualized Transition Plan
* LD--------------Learning Disability
* LEP-------------Limited English Proficiency
* LRE-------------Least Restrictive Environment
* MA--------------Mental Age
* MD--------------Muscular Dystrophy
* MD or MH--------Multiple Disabilities or Multiply Handicapped
* MMR-------------Mildly Mentally Retarded
* Mod MR----------Moderately Mentally Retarded
* MR--------------Mental Retardation
* NDT-------------Neurodevelopmental Treatment
* NPRM------------Notice of Proposed Rule Making
* OCD-------------Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
* ODD-------------Oppositional Defiant Disorder
* OHI-------------Other Health Impairment
* OI--------------Orthopedic Impairment
* O & M-----------Orientation and Mobility
* OT--------------Occupational Therapy
* PALS------------Peer-Assisted Learning System
* PASS------------Plan for Achieving Self-Support
* PBS-------------Positive Behavioral Supports
* PCA-------------Personal Care Attendant
* PD--------------Physical Disability
* PDD-------------Pervasive Developmental Disorder
* Perkins Act-----Carl Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act
* PLEP or PLP-----Present Level of Educational Performance or Present Level of Performance
* PP--------------Paraprofessional
* PS--------------Preschool
* PT--------------Physical Therapy
* RS--------------Related Services
* §---------------This symbol means “Section” as in “§ 300.7 Child with a disability”in the IDEA regulations
* SAS-------------Supplementary Aids and Services
* SB--------------Spina Bifida
* SC--------------Service Coordinator
* SE--------------Special Education
* SEAC------------Special Education Advisory Committee
* Section 504-----Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
* SED-------------Serious Emotional Disturbance
* SI--------------Sensory Integration
* SIG-------------State Improvement Grant
* SIP-------------State Implementation Plan
* SLD-------------Specific Learning Disability
* S/L I-----------Speech/Language Impairment
* S/L P-----------Speech/Language Pathologist
* S/P D or S/P H--Severe/Profound Disability or Handicap
* SPOA------------Specific Power of Attorney
* SSDI------------Social Security Disability Income
* SSI-------------Supplemental Security Income
* SST-------------Student Study Team
* TBI-------------Traumatic Brain Injury
* TDD-------------Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf
* TMH-------------Trainable Mentally Handicapped
* TMR-------------Trainable Mentally Retarded
* TS--------------Tourette Syndrome
* T-TA------------Training and Technical Assistance
* TTY-------------Teletypewriter (phone system for the deaf)
* TWWIIA----------Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act
* VI--------------Visual Impairment
* Voc Ed----------Vocational Education
* VR--------------Vocational Rehabilitation

Acronym-------------- Law

ADA The Americans with Disabilities Act.
The ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the areas of employment, public transportation,telecommunications, access to public services programs, and activities of state and local governments, as well as those of commercial facilities,private businesses, and nonprofit service providers. The ADA was signed into law July 26, 1990.

CFR Code of Federal Regulations.
The rules and regulations of federal agencies as published in the Federal Register. The federal regulations for the implementation of the IDEA were published in the March 12, 1999,Federal Register, Part II, Department of Education, 34 CFR Parts 300 and 303.

DD Act Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act.
Last amended in 1994, this Act is in the 106th Congress for reauthorization. The DD Act supports state developmental disabilities councils, state protection and advocacy agencies, university-affiliated programs, and other projects of national significance to enhance the independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities.

EDGAR Education Department General Administrative Regulations.
These establish uniform administrative requirements for federal grants and
agreements awarded to institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other nonprofit organizations. Entities that apply for and receive federal grant funds must follow EDGAR regulations.

EHA Education of the Handicapped Act (now IDEA).
The name of the original 1975 legislation entitling children and youth with disabilities to a free appropriate public education.

ESEA The Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
This law contains several federal programs designed to address the needs of disadvantaged students. The largest, Title 1 (formerly Chapter 1), is an $8 billion program designed to ensure that students in high poverty schools meet high standards. The law was amended in 1994 to strengthen provisions around high state standards for all students, accountability for schools and districts that continually underperform, and strong parental involvement and quality program requirements for schools and districts receiving Title 1 funds. The law is currently in the process of being reauthorized.

FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Legislation giving parents the right to inspect and review their child’s educational records, to amend errors or inaccuracies in those records, and to consent to disclosure of records.

FOIA Freedom of Information Act.
Enacted in 1966, this law entitles any person to the right to request access to federal agency records or information. There are some exemptions and exclusions that apply. Nearly all state governments have FOIA-type statutes that apply to state and local public agencies.

IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (formerly EHA).
This law states that children with disabilities have the right to a free
appropriate public education, including procedural protections and the right to an education that is standards based. The latest amendments to this special education law were passed in 1997.

NPRM Notice of Proposed Rule Making.
Whenever a federal agency proposes to publish new or amended regulations to enact a law (such as IDEA)the proposed regulations are issued in the Federal Register for public review and comment. The NPRM designation indicates that these are proposed regulations, out for public comment. Once finalized, regulations are published in the Federal Register as Final Rules and Regulations.

PASS Plan for Achieving Self-Support.
A part of the SSI statute that permits the exclusion of income and resources of individuals who are blind or disabled, if an individual needs such income/resources to fulfill an approved PASS. PASS allows income to be set aside in order to reach a goal toward independence, such as starting a business, going to school, or obtaining training for a job. PASS set-aside money does not reduce SSI benefits.

The Perkins Act The Carl Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1998.
The purpose of this act is to develop more fully the academic,vocational, and technical skills of secondary and postsecondary students who choose to enroll in vocational and technical education programs. The act applies to the general population and to the following special populations: individuals with disabilities; individuals from economically disadvantaged families, including foster children; individuals preparing for nontraditional training and employment; single parents; single pregnant women; displaced homemakers; and individuals with limited English proficiency.

§ This symbol means “Section” as in “§300.7 Child with a disability” as written in the IDEA regulations.

Section 504 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
A civil rights statute designed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Some individuals who do not qualify for services under IDEA may receive services and/or accommodations under Section 504.

SSDI Social Security Disability Income.
Cash benefits paid to individuals who are blind or have other disabilities and who have previously worked under (i.e., paid into) Social Security.

SSI Supplemental Security Income.
A supplemental cash benefits program administered by the Social Security Administration for individuals who are blind or have other disabilities who have little or no income or resources.

TWWIIA Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999.
Landmark legislation enabling individuals with disabilities to become employed without losing Medicare or Medicaid coverage provided to those who are unemployed and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance and/or Supplemental Security Income. This act allows individuals to buy into these coverages when they stop receiving disability benefits upon gainful employment. Other provisions of the act give individuals the ability to obtain vocational rehabilitation and/or other support services.