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

ADD – Attention Deficit 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 – Emotionally Disturbed (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 (see also MR)

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

MR – Mental Retardation (see also ID)

NPA – NonPublic Agency

NPS – NonPublic School

OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

ODD – Oppositional Defiant Disorder

OHI – Other Health Impaired

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

SDC – Special Day Class

SDI – Specially Designed Instruction

SED – Severely Emotionally Disturbed (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 Imairment

*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!