Special Education Acronyms

The world of special education is full of abbreviations! Here are some and what they mean.



ABA  Applied Behavior Analysis
ADA  Americans with Disabilities Act
ADD  Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
APE Adapted Physical Education
ASL  American Sign Language

BIP  Behavioral Intervention Plan

CP  Cerebral Palsy

DB  Deaf/Blind
DD  Developmental Disability

ED  Emotionally Disturbed
ELL  English Language Learner (previously ESL)
ESY  Extended School Year

FAPE  Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA  Functional Behavioral Assessment

HI  Hearing Impaired
HOH  Hard of Hearing

ID  Intellectual Disability (to replace MR)
IDEA  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004
IEE  Independent Educational Evaluation
IEP  Individualized Education Program
IFSP  Individualized Family Service Plan
ITP  Individual Transition Plan

LD  Learning Disability
LEA  Local Education Agency or school district
LEP  Limited English Proficient
LRE  Least Restrictive Environment

MD  Multiple Disabilities
MDT  Multi-Disciplinary Team
MH  Multiple Handicapped
MR  Mental Retardation (Soon to be replaced by ID)

NCLB  No Child Left Behind
NPS Nonpublic School (private)

OAH  Office of Administrative Hearings
OCR  Office of Civil Rights
OI  Orthopedically Impaired
OSERS  Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
OSEP  Office of Special Education Programs
OT  Occupational Therapy

PDD  Pervasive Developmental Disorder
PT  Physical Therapy
PWN  Prior Written Notice

RTI  Response to Intervention

SEA  State Education Agency
SCC   Self-contained Classroom
SDE  State Department of Education
SLD  Specific Learning Disability
SLI  Speech/Language Impaired
SLP  Speech Language Pathologist

TBI  Traumatic Brain Injury

VI  Visually Impaired