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
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