Wednesday, January 12, 2022
We understand that special education can feel like alphabet soup at times. That’s why we put together a short glossary of common acronyms and their meanings for your reference.
ABA - Applied Behavior Analysis
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASP - Autism Scholarship Program
BIP - Behavior Intervention Plan
DD - Developmental Delay
ED - Emotional Disturbance
ETR - Evaluation Team Report
FAPE - Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA - Functional Behavior Assessment
ID - Intellectual Disability
IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Act
IEP - Individualized Education Program
JPSN Scholarship - Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship
LD - Learning Disability
LRE - Least Restrictive Environment
MDT - Multidisciplinary Team
ODD - Oppositional Defiance Disorder
OHI - Other Health Impairment
OI - Orthopedic Impairment
OT - Occupational Therapist
PT - Physical Therapist
SLD - Specific Learning Disability
SLI - Speech Language Impairment
SLP - Speech Language Pathologist
SPED/Spec Ed - Special Education
TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury
We recognize that this list only scratches the surface of the acronyms used in the special education world, which is why we encourage all families to ask questions. If you are unsure of anything being explained to you by your child’s education and therapy team, it is okay to ask for clarification.