The Language of Special Education
When navigating the complicated Special Education system, you may encounter acronyms. This list, while not entirely comprehensive, will familiarize you with these common acronyms as you advocate for your special needs child.
ABA
Applied Behavioral Analysis
ACCESS-VR
Adult Career Continuing Education Services
– Vocational Rehabilitation
ADA
The Americans with Disabilities Act
AIS
Academic Intervention Services
ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder
AT
Assistive Technology
BIP
Behavioral Intervention Plan
BOCES
Board of Cooperative Educational Services
BOE
Board of Education
CCSS
Common Core State Standards
CDOS
Career Development and Occupational Studies
CPSE
The Committee on Preschool Special Education
CSE
Committee on Special Education
CST
Child Study Team
EI
Early Intervention
DASA
Dignity for All Students Act
DDSO
Developmental Disability Service Office
FAPE
Free and Appropriate Public Education
FBA
Functional Behavioral Assessment
FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
ID
Classification of Intellectual Disability
IDEA
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IEE
Independent Educational Evaluations
IEP
Individualized Education Program
IFSP
Individualized Family Service Plan
IHO
Impartial Hearing Officer
IQ
Intelligence Quotient
ISE
Individualized Service Plan
LD
Classification of Learning Disability
LEA
Local Educational Agency
LRE
Least Restrictive Environment
NCLB
No Child Left Behind
NYSAA
New York State Alternate Assessment
NYSED
New York State Department of Education
OCR
Office of Civil Rights
OHI
Classification of Other Health Impaired
OMH
Office of Mental Health
OPWDD
Office of People with Developmental Disabilities
OSE
Office of Special Education
OSR
Office of State Review
OT
Occupational Therapy
PLOP
Present Levels of Performance
PR
Percentile Rank
PT
Physical Therapy
RTI
Response to Intervention
SAAC
Skills and Achievement Credential
SCIS
Special Class Integrated Setting
SD
Standard Deviation OR School District
SED
State Education Department
SEIT
Special Education Itinerant Teacher
SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
SRO
State Review Officer
SS
Standard Score
SSA
Social Security Administration
SSDI
Social Security Disability
SNT
Supplemental Needs Trust
SSI
Supplemental Security Income
TBI
Traumatic Brain Injury
USDOE
United States Department of Education
Scroll to the bottom of this page to download a copy of these acronyms and their definitions as a PDF.
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