A Acronyms 

AAC Alternative Augmentative Communication 

ABA | Applied Behavioral Analysis 

ABC | Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence 

ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act 

ADD/ADHD | Attention Deficit/Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 

AIM | Accessible Instructional Materials 

APE | Adaptive Physical Education 

ASD | Autism Spectrum Disorders 

ASL | American Sign Language 

AT | Assistive Technology  

B Acronyms 

BD | Behavioral Disorder 

BIE | Bureau of Indian Education 

BIP | Behavioral Intervention Plan  

C Acronyms 

CAPD | Central Auditory Processing Disorder 

CBA | Curriculum Based Assessment 

CBI | Community Based Instruction

CC | Closed Captioning 

CF | Cystic Fibrosis 

CFR | Code of Federal Regulations 

CP | Cerebral Palsy 

CPIR | Center for Parent Information and Resources  

D Acronyms 

DB | Deaf-Blind 

DD | Developmental Delay 

DIBELS | Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy 

DS | Down Syndrome 

DSM | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association  

E Acronyms 

EBD |  Emotional Behavioral Disorder

ECE | Early Childhood Education 

ECSE | Early Childhood Special Education 

ED | Emotional Disturbance 

ELL | English Language Learner 

ESD | Extended School Day 

ESL | English as a Second Language 

ESSA | Every Student Succeeds Act  

ESY or EYS | Extended School Year or Extended Year Services 

F Acronyms 

FAPE | Free Appropriate Public Education 

FAS | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 

FBA | Functional Behavioral Assessment 

FC | Facilitated Communication 

FERPA | Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act  

G and H Acronyms 

GADOE | The Georgia Department of Education 

GE | General Education 

GT | Gifted and Talented 

HI | Hearing Impaired 

HO | Hearing Officer 

HH | Hard of Hearing  

I Acronyms 

IA | Instructional Assistant 

IAES | Interim Alternative Educational Setting 

ID | Intellectual Disabilities 

IDD |  Intellectual or Developmental Disability

IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 

IEE | Independent Educational Evaluation 

IEP | Individualized Education Program 

IFSP | Individualized Family Service Plan 

IHE | Institution of Higher Education  

L, M, and N Acronyms 

LD | Learning Disability 

LEA | Local Education Agency 

LEP | Limited English Proficiency 

LRE | Least Restrictive Environment 

MD | Muscular Dystrophy 

MD or MH | Multiple Disabilities or Multiply Handicapped 

MDR | Manifestation Determination Review 

NIH | National Institutes of Health  

O Acronyms 

OCD | Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 

OCR | Office for Civil Rights 

ODD | Oppositional Defiant Disorder 

OHI | Other Health Impairment 

OI | Orthopedic Impairment 

O & M | Orientation and Mobility Services 

OSAH | Office of State Administrative Hearings 

OSEP | Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education 

OT | Occupational Therapy  

P and R Acronyms 

P&A | Protection & Advocacy 

PALS | Peer-Assisted Learning System 

PARCC  | Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers 

PASS | Plan for Achieving Self-Support 

PBS | Positive Behavioral Supports 

PCA | Personal Care Attendant 

PD | Physical Disability 

PDD | Pervasive Developmental Disorder 

PEI | Spanish acronym for the Individualized Education Program (Plan Educativo Individualizado) 

PII | Personally Identifiable Information 

PLAAFP | Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance 

PP | Paraprofessional 

Pre-ETS | Pre-Employment Services

PS | Preschool 

PT | Physical Therapy 

RS | Related Services 

RTI | Response to Intervention  

S Acronyms 

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

SAS | Supplementary Aids and Services 

SB | Spina Bifida 

SE | Special Education 

SEA | State Education Agency 

SEAC | Special Education Advisory Committee 

Section 504 | Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 

SED | Serious Emotional Disturbance 

SI | Sensory Integration 

SLD | Specific Learning Disability 

SLI | Speech/Language Impairment 

SLP | Speech/Language Pathologist 

SST | Student Support Team  

T to Z Acronyms 

TBI | Traumatic Brain Injury 

TDD | Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf 

TS | Tourette Syndrome 

TTY | Teletypewriter (phone system for the deaf) 

VI |Visual Impairment 

Voc Ed | Vocational Education 

VR (voc-rehab) | Vocational Rehabilitation