The world of education is full of acronyms, here is a list of some of the most frequently used acronyms in special education. If we use a term you are unfamiliar with, please ask us what it means. As educators, we forget from time to time that not everyone speaks our language.
ABA———Applied Behavioral Analysis
ABS———Academic Behavior Support Program
ACC———Accommodated Core Curriculum
ADA———Americans with Disabilities Act
ADHD———Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ALS———Alternative Language Services
APE———Adapted Physical Education
ARRA———American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (2009)
ASL———American Sign Language
ASD———Autism Spectrum Disorder
AU———Autism
AYP———Adequate Yearly Progress
BCBA———Board Certified Behavior Analyst
BIP———Behavior Intervention Plan
CCC———Certificate of Clinical Competence
CD———Communication Disorder
COTA———Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
DB———Deafblindness
DCFS———Division of Child Family Services
DD———Developmental Delay
DI———Direct Instruction
DLM———Dynamic Learning Maps
DSPD———Division of Services for Person with Disabilities
EBD———Emotional Behavioral Disability
EBR———Educational Benefits Review
EC———Early Childhood
EE———Essential Elements
EEC———Essential Elements Classroom
EI———Early Intervention
ELL———English Language Learner
ESY———Extended School Year
FAPE———Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA———Functional Behavior Assessment
FERPA———Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
HBI———Home Bound Instruction
HI———Hearing Impairment/Deafness
IAES———Interim Alternative Education Setting
ID———Intellectual Disability
IDEA———Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act,
Part B — Ages 3 through 22nd birthday
Part C — Birth through age 2
IEE———Independent Education Evaluation
IEP———Individualized Education Plan
IFSP———Individualized Family Service Plan (Part C)
ISP———Individualized Service Plan
LEA———Local Education Agency
LRBI———Least Restrictive Behavior Intervention
LRE———Least Restrictive Environment
MD———Multiple Disabilities
ML———Multilingual Students
MTSS———Multi-tiered Systems of Supports
NCLB———No Child Left Behind
NCSP———National Certified School Psychologist
O&M———Orientation and Mobility
OCR———Office of Civil Rights (Federal)
OHI———Other Health Impairments
OI———Orthopedic Impairment
OSEP———Office of Special Education Programs (Federal)
OT———Occupational Therapy
PBIS———Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports
PHLOTE———Primary Home Language Other Than English
PLAAFP———Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance
PT———Physical Therapy
PTA———Parent Teacher Association
RTI———Response to Intervention
SEA———State Education Agency
SLD———Specific Learning Disability
SLI———Speech Language Impairment
SLP———Speech Language Pathologist
SLT———Speech Language Technician
SPED———Special Education
TBI———Traumatic Brain Injury
UAA———Utah Alternative Assessment (Science Only)
UATT———Utah Assistive Technology Team
UCAS———Utah Comprehensive Accountability System
UPDC———Utah Personnel Development Center
UPIPS———Utah Program Improvement Planning System
USBE———Utah State Board of Education
USDB———Utah School for the Deaf and Blind
VI———Vision Impairment (including Blindness)
YIC———Youth in Custody
