Glossary of Terms
Common Acronyms in Education and Mental Health*:
AAC – Augmentative & Alternative Communication
AB3632 – Assembly Bill 3632 (A California law addressing the mental health needs of students from 1984 – 2010)
ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
APE – Adaptive Physical Education
AT – Assistive Technology
BIP – Behavior Intervention Plan
DD – Developmental Delay
DHH – Deaf and/or Hard-of-Hearing
DIS – Designated Instructional Services (AKA Related Services)
ED – Emotional Disturbance (see also SED)
EI – Early Intervention
ELL – English Language Learner
ERICS – Educationally Related Intensive Counseling Services
ERMHS – Educationally Related Mental Health Services
ESL – English as a Second Language
ESE – Exceptional Student Education
ESY – Extended School Year (i.e. summer school)
FAA – Functional Analysis Assessment
FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education
FAS – Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FASD – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
FBA – Functional Behavior Analysis
GE – General Education
HI – Hearing Impairment
ID – Intellectual Disability
IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IEE – Independent Education Evaluation
IEP – Individualized Education Program
IFSP – Individualized Family Service Plan
ITP – Individualized Transition Plan
LAS – Language And Speech (see also SLI)
LD – Learning Disability or Learning Disorder (see also SLD)
LEA – Local Education Agency
LRE – Least Restrictive Environment
MD – Multiple Disabilities
NPA – NonPublic Agency
NPS – NonPublic School
OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
ODD – Oppositional Defiant Disorder
OHI – Other Health Impairment
OI – Orthopedic Impairment
OT – Occupational Therapy/Therapist
PDD – Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PLOP – Present Level of Performance
PT – Physical Therapy/Therapist
PWN – Prior Written Notice
R/O – Rule Out (used in mental health diagnosis to note diagnosis that are being considered and have not yet been ruled out)
RSP – Resource Specialist Program
RTI – Response To Intervention
SAI – Specialized Academic Instruction
SDC – Special Day Class
SDI – Specially Designed Instruction
SED – Serious Emotional Disturbance (see also ED)
SELPA – Special Education Local Planning Area
SLD – Specific Learning Disability (see also LD)
SLI – Speech and Language Impairment (see also LAS)
SLP – Speech and Language Pathologist (see also ST)
SPED – SPecial EDucation
ST – Speech Therapy/Therapist (see also SLP)
TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
VI – Visual Impairment
*This list is provided for your convenience and will be updated periodically. It does not represent a complete list of acronyms used by these fields. We will do our best to keep the list updated with pertinent terms. If you have suggestions for commonly used acronyms in special education or mental health, feel free to send them our way!