Common Abbreviations, Definitions, Slang and Idioms Used in Autism
| AAC | Assistive Augmentative Communication |
| AANE | Asperger’s Association of New England |
| ABA | Applied Behavior Analysis |
| ABA | Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavioral therapy |
| ABC | Autism Behavior Checklist |
| ABI | Adaptive Behavior Inventory |
| ABLE | Adult Basic Literacy Education |
| ABLLS | Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills test |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 |
| AD | Attachment Disorder |
| ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder |
| ADHD | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
| ADOS | Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale |
| AIT | Advanced Individual Training |
| AIT | Auditory Integration Therapy |
| AMA | American Medical Association |
| APD | Auditory Processing Disorder |
| APE | Adaptive Physical Education |
| ARC | Association of Retarded Citizens |
| ARD | Admission, Review, Dismissal (used in Texas) |
| ARI | Autism Research Institute |
| ARRI | Autism Research Review International, Quarterly publication from the ARI |
| AS | Asperger’s Syndrome (DSM IV 299.80) |
| AS | Autistic Spectrum |
| ASA | Autism Society of America |
| ASD | Autistic Spectrum Disorder |
| ASHA | American Speech & Hearing Association |
| ASL | American Sign Language |
| ASPEN | Asperger Syndrome Parent Education Network |
| ASPEN of New Jersey | (not affiliatied with ASPEN of America) |
| ASPIE | A person with Asperger’s Syndrome (friendly) |
| AUTIE | A person with Autism (friendly) |
| BBB | Blood Brain Barrier |
| BBRS | Burks’ Behavior Rating Scale |
| BCBA | Board Certified Behavioral Analyst |
| BD | Behavioral Disorder |
| BD/ED | Behavior Disordered Emotionally Disturbed. |
| BED | Body Ecology Diet |
| BIC | Behavior Improvement Class. |
| BIP | Behavior Improvement Plan |
| BMP | Behavior Management Plan |
| BOCES | Board of Cooperative Educational Services |
| BP | Bi-Polar (formerly called “manic-depressive”) |
| BSC | Behavioral Specialist Consultant |
| BSU | Base Service Unit |
| BSU | Behavioral Services Unit |
| CADDRE | Center for Autism & Developmental Disabilities Research & Epidemiology |
| CAO | County Assistance Office |
| CAP | Client Assistance Program administered by the Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services |
| CAPD | Central Auditory Processing Disorder |
| CARD | Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (used in Florida) |
| CARD | Center for Autism and Related Disorders (used in Maryland and many other states) |
| CARD | Committee for Admission, Review, Dismissal (used in Texas) |
| CARS | Childhood Autism Rating Scale (diagnostic and evaluation tool) |
| CASSP | Child and Adolescent Service System Program |
| CAT or CT Scan | Computer Axial Tomography – a scan using an xray machine linked to a computer that produces a scan in cross sections using iodine (BEWARE if you are allergic to shellfish) |
| CBH | Community Behavioral Health |
| CCBH | Community Care Behavioral Health |
| CD | Conduct Disorder |
| CDC | Center for Disease Control and Prevention |
| CF | Casein Free |
| CFIDS | Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome |
| CFS | Chronic fatigue syndrome |
| CH.A.D.D. | Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder |
| CHARGE | Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment |
| CHAT | Checklist for Autism in Toddlers |
| CHOP | Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia |
| CI | Community Integration |
| CLA | Community Living Arrangement |
| CLO | Cod Liver Oil |
| CMMS | Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services |
| CMS | Children’s Medical Services |
| CNS | Central Nervous System |
| COSAC | Center for Outreach and Services for the Autistic Community (New Jersey) |
| COTA | Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant |
| CP | Cerebral Palsy |
| CPEA | Collaborative Programs of Excellence in Autism |
| CPS | Child Protective Services |
| CPT | Current Procedural Terminology (Procedure codes used for insurance billing) |
| CSE | Committee for Special Education (called “MDT” in some states) |
| CST | Child Study Team |
| CVPD | Central Vision Processing Disorder |
| CYA | California Youth Authority |
| DAN | Defeat Autism Now! (http://www.autism.com) |
| DAS | Developmental Apraxia of Speech |
| DAS | Differential Abilities Scales. |
| DCD | Development Coordination Disorder |
| DD | Department of Disabilities |
| DD | Developmentally Delayed |
| DD | Developmental Disabilities |
| DD | Developmental Disorder |
| DDD | Department of Developmental Disabilities |
| DH | Developmentally Handicapped |
| DHHS | Department of Health and Human Services |
| DMG | DiMethylGlycine-See also TMG |
| DOH | Department of Health |
| DPT | A triple inoculation given to kids: Diptheria, Pertussis (whooping cough), Tetanus |
| DPW | Department of Public Welfare |
| DR | Disability Rights |
| DREDF | Disability Rights Education Defense Fund |
| DS | Developmental Services |
| DS | Down’s Syndrome |
| DSM | Diagnostic Statistical Manual |
| DSM-IV | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th Edition |
| DSMR | Diagnostic Statistical Manual (Revised) – preceded DSM-IV |
| DTT | Discrete Trial Training |
| DTVMI | Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration |
| DV | Domestic Violence |
| DX | Diagnosis, diagnosed |
| EASe | Electronic Auditory Stimulation effect |
| EBD | Emotional Behavioral Disorder |
| ECG | ElectroCardioGram |
| ECSE | Early Childhood Special Education |
| ECT | ElectroConvulsive Therapy (electroshock) |
| ED | Emotionally Disturbed |
| EEG | ElectroEncephaloGram |
| EFA | Essential Fatty Acids |
| EFD | Executive Functioning Disorder. |
| EH | Emotionally Handicapped |
| EI | Early Intervention |
| EIBI | Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention |
| EKG | ElectroCardioGram (basically, a graph of the heart’s electrical activity) |
| EMH | Educable Mentally Handicapped |
| EMS | Emergency Medical Services |
| EOH | A listserve on Yahoogroups.com named after the book, Evidence of Harm by David Kirby |
| EPD | Enzyme Potentiated Desensitization |
| EPSDT | Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis & Treatment Program |
| ERIC | Educational Resources Information Center, a computer database of educational information |
| ESD | Educational Service District |
| ESE | Exceptional Student Education |
| ESL | English as a Second Language |
| ESY | Extended School Year |
| FAPE | Free Appropriate Public Education |
| FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions (an info sheet in Q&A format) |
| FAS | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome |
| FC | Facilitated Communication |
| FDA | Food and Drug Administration |
| FDSS | Family Driven Support Services |
| FERPA | Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act |
| FFP | Federal Financial Participation |
| fMRI | Functional MRI (brain scan test) |
| FNS | Fuzzy Neuron Syndrome (associated with FADD) |
| FOIA | Freedom Of Information Act |
| FRAX | Fragile X Syndrome |
| FSP | Family Support Plan |
| FSS | Family Support Services |
| GAF | Global Assessment of Functioning scale. |
| GARS | Gilliam Autism Rating Scale |
| GED | General Education Development (a test in place of High School Diploma) |
| GFCF | Gluten-free, casein-free diet |
| GFCFSF | Gluten-free, casein free, soy-free diet |
| GI | Gastrointestinal |
| HCBW | Home and Community Based Waiver |
| HELP | Hawaii Early Learning Profile Test |
| HFA | High Functioning Autism |
| HFS | Health Food Store |
| HH | Hard of Hearing |
| HH | Household |
| HI | Hearing Impaired |
| HMO | Health Medical Organization |
| HSLDA | Home School Legal Defense Organization |
| IACC | InterAgency Coordinating Committee |
| IBD | Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| IBS | Irritable Bowel Syndrome |
| ICD-9 | International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (used for billing insurance) which classifies diseases by numbers. |
| ICF | Intermediate Care Facility |
| IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act |
| IEP | Individualized Education Plan |
| IFSP | Individualized Family Service Plan |
| IgG | Immunoglobulin G |
| IHP | Individualized Habilitation Program |
| IME | Independent Medical Examination |
| InLv | Independent Living (support group) |
| IQ | Intelligence Quotient |
| IRB | Institutional Review Board |
| IRWE | Impairment-Related Work Expense |
| ITM | Interagency Team Meeting |
| JADD | Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders |
| LD | Learning Disability, Learning Disabled |
| LEA | Local Education Agency |
| LKS | Landau Kleffner Syndrome |
| LOD | Low Oxalate Diet |
| LRE | Least Restrictive Environment |
| M-D | Manic Depression (now called bipolar depression) |
| MDO | Major Depressive Disorder |
| MDT | Multi-Disciplinary Team (called “CSE” in some states) |
| MEG | Magnetoencephalogram, used in LKS |
| MFC | Marriage and Family Counselor |
| MFCC | Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor |
| MFE | Multi-Factored Evaluation |
| MH | Mental Health |
| MH | Mentally Handicapped; Mentally Retarded (IQ less than 70) |
| MMR | Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccination |
| MPD | Multiple Personality Disorder |
| MR | Mental Retardation, Mentally Retarded (IQ less than 70) |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
| MSDD | Multi-system developmental disorder |
| MT | Mobile Therapist |
| NACD | National Academy of Child Development |
| NBAC | National Bioethics Advisory Commission |
| NBD | Neurobiological Disorder |
| NDA | Not Diagnosed with Anything |
| NICHCY | National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities |
| NIDS | NeuroImmune Deficiency Syndrome |
| NIEHS | National Institute of Environmental Health Services |
| NIH | National Institute of Health |
| NIMH | National Institute of Mental Health |
| NINDS | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke |
| NJCOSAC | New Jersey Center for Outreach & Services for the Autism Community |
| NOD | Not Otherwise Defined, Often appears alot with DX by psychologists |
| NOD | Not Otherwise Diagnosed |
| NORD | National Organization for Rare Disorders |
| NOREP | Notice of Recommended Educational Placement |
| NOS | Not of Specific Origin |
| NOS | Not Otherwise Specified, usually seen as PDD-NOS |
| NPD | Normal Person Disorder (used jokingly) |
| NPND | National Parent Network on Disabilities |
| NT | Neurologically Typical |
| NT | Neurotypical |
| NVLD | Non-Verbal Learning Disability |
| NYD | Not Yet Diagnosed (informal usage) |
| OAAC | Office of Advocacy for Autistic Children. |
| OASIS | On-line Asperger’s Syndrome Information and Support (organizational site at http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger) |
| OB | Specific to |
| OBRA | Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act |
| OCB | Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior |
| OCD | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder |
| OCD | Office of Child Development |
| OCD | Oppositional Conduct Disorder |
| OCR | Office of Civil Rights |
| OCYF | Office of Children, Youth and Families |
| ODD | Oppositional Defiant Disorder |
| OHI | Other Health Impaired. |
| OIM | Office of Income Maintenance |
| OMHSAS | Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services |
| OMR | Office of Mental Retardation |
| ORS | Office of Rehabilitation Services |
| OSEP | Office of Special Education Programs |
| OSERS | Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services |
| OSP | Office of Social Programs |
| OT | Occupational Therapist or therapy |
| OVR | Office of Vocational Rehabilitation |
| P&A | Protection & Advocacy |
| PA | Parents’ Auxiliary |
| PANDAS | Pediatric Autoimmune Neurological Disorder Associated with Strep. |
| Part B | References parts of IDEA which covers education of ages 3-22, ie. school system |
| Part C | References parts of IDEA which covers birth to 3; Early intervention |
| PCA | Personal Care Assistant |
| PDD | Pervasive Developmental Disorder |
| PDDNOS | Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified |
| PDR | Physician’s Desk Reference |
| PECS | Picture Exchange Communication System |
| PEN | Parent Education Network |
| PERS | Personal Emergency Response Systems |
| PET | Positron Emission Tomography Scan |
| Pica | (not an abbreviation) means the eating of non-food stuff |
| PKU | Phenylketonuria |
| PL94-142 | Public Law 94-142. Education for Handicapped Children Act, Revised in 1990 to become IDEA. |
| POA | Power of Attorney |
| POHI | Physically or Otherwise Health Impaired |
| PPO | Preferred Physician Organization |
| PPO | Preferred Provider Option |
| PPS | Pupil Personnel Services |
| PQ | Performance IQ |
| PRT | Pivotal Response Training |
| PT | Physical Therapist or Therapy |
| PTIC | Parent Training and Information Center |
| PTSD | Post Traumatic Stress Disorder |
| PUNS | Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services |
| PwD | People with Disabilities |
| Q&A | Question-and-Answer, generally referring to a document format. |
| QEEG | Quantitative ElectroEncephaloGram |
| RA | Rheumatoid Arthritis |
| RDI | Relationship Developmental Intervention |
| SAD | Seasonal Affective Disorder (aka “Wintertime Depression”) |
| SBH | Severe Behavior Handicap |
| SCD | Specific Carbohydrate Diet |
| SD | School District |
| SED | Severely Emotionally Disturbed |
| SELPA | Special Education Local Plan Area (used in CA) |
| SERRC | Special Educational Regional Recourse Center |
| SI | Sensory Integration. |
| SID | Sensory Integration Dysfunction |
| SIB | Self-injurious behavior |
| SIPT | Sensory Integration and Praxis Text |
| SLP | Speech and Language Pathologist |
| SM | Selective Mutism. |
| SNT | Special Needs Trust |
| SNT | SuperNu Thera – by Kirkman Labs |
| Sped | special education |
| SSA | Social Security Administration |
| SSD | Social Security Disability |
| SSDI | Social Security Disability Income |
| SSI | Supplemental Security Income |
| SSRI | Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (class of meds, incl: Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox.) |
| SST | Student Study Team (used in CA) |
| STAART | Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment |
| STRANS | Survey of Teenage Readiness And Neurodevelopmental Status |
| TACA | Talk About Curing Autism |
| TBI | Traumatic Brain Injury |
| TEACCH | Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Disorders |
| TEC | Transitional Employment Consultant |
| TMG | TriMethylGlycine (see also DMG) |
| TMH | Trainable Mentally Handicapped |
| TOPL | Test of Pragmatic Language |
| TS | Tourette’s Syndrome |
| TS | Tuberous Sclerosis |
| TSS | Therapeutic Support Staff |
| VAERs | Vaccine Adverse Experience Reports (published by FDA) |
| VB | Verbal Behavior |
| VE | Varying Exceptionalities |
| Voc-Ed | Vocational Education |
| VQ | Verbal IQ |
| VR | Vocational Rehabilitation |
| WAIS | Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (an IQ test) |
| WIIA | Work Incentives Initiative Act |
| WISC | Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (an IQ test) |
| WPPSI | Weschler Preschool Primary – testing for under age 6 |
| YO | Year Old |
Pages: 1 2 3
