Special Ed Acronyms

 

The following is a list of commonly used in special education and other areas related to individuals with disabilities. You may find some of these in the IDEA ’97 regulations, in meetings with school staff, and in the formal paperwork that describes your child’s evaluation, eligibility, and educational program. Knowing what these terms mean can help you become more fully informed and a more effective partner in making decisions for and with your child.

 

Acronym	Term
AAC	Alternative Augmentative Communication
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
ADD/ADHD	Attention Deficit/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADLs	Activities of Daily Living
APE	Adaptive Physical Education
ARD	Admission, Review, and Dismissal Committee
ASL	American Sign Language
AT	Assistive Technology
CAPD	Central Auditory Processing Disorder
CF	Cystic Fibrosis
CP	Cerebral Palsy
DB	Deaf-Blind
DS	Down Syndrome
ED	Emotional Disturbance
ESL	English as a Second Language
ESY or EYS	Extended School Year or Extended Year Services
FAPE	Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA	Functional Behavioral Assessment
FERPA	Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
GE	General Education
HI	Hearing Impaired
IA	Instructional Assistant
IDEA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IEE	Individualized Educational Evaluation
IEP	Individualized Education Program
IFSP	Individualized Family Service Plan
LD	Learning Disability
LEP	Limited English Proficiency
LRE	Least Restrictive Environment
OHI	Other Health Impairment
OT	Occupational Therapy
PT	Physical Therapy
RS	Related Services
Section 504	Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
SLD	Specific Learning Disability
S/L I	Speech/Language Impairment
S/L P	Speech/Language Pathologist
SSDI	Social Security Disability Income
SSI	Supplemental Security Income
TBI	Traumatic Brain Injury
VI	Visual Impairment
VAC	Vocational Education