ACRONYM	NAME	MEANING
ABA	Applied Behavior Analysis	process of systematically applying interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially significant behaviors to a meaningful degree, and to demonstrate that the interventions employed are responsible for the improvement in behavior.
ABC	Association for Bright Children	An all-volunteer, provincially incorporated support and advocacy group, with many chapters across Ontario.
ABI	Adaptive Behavior Inventory	The ABI evaluates the functional daily living skills of school-age children (ages 6-0 to 18-11) and helps identify students believed to be intellectually disabled or emotionally disturbed.
ABLE	Adult Basic Literacy Education	is community based programming that promotes learner success and contributes to a strong Northwest Territories.
ABLLS	Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills- Revised	is an assessment tool, curriculum guide, and skills-tracking system used to help guide the instruction of language and critical learner skills for children with autism or other developmental disabilities.
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act	US Federal Law governing the rights of persons with disabilities with regard to employment and other issues
AC	Accomodated Only	is the term used on the IEP form to identify subjects or courses from the Ontario curriculum in which the student requires accommodations alone in order to work towards achieving the regular grade expectations.
ACC	Assistive Augmentative Communication	A speech languauge therapists term for communication using a picture board or recorded messages activated by buttons and others
AD	Attachement Disorder	is a broad term intended to describe disorders of mood, behavior, and social relationships arising from a failure to form normal attachments toprimary care giving figures in early childhood.
ADD	Attention Deficit Disorder	a disorder, particularly of children, characterized by excessive activity and inability to concentrate on one task for any length oftime.
ADHD	Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder	is a problem of not being able to focus, being overactive, not being able control behavior, or a combination of these. For these problems to be diagnosed as ADHD, they must be out of the normal range for a person's age and development.
ADI	Autism Diagnostic Interview	is a structuredinterview conducted with the parents of individuals who have been referred for the evaluation of possible autism or autism spectrum disorders.
ADOS	Autism Diagnostic Observational Sacle	is an instrument for diagnosing and assessing autism. It became commercially available in 2001 through WPS, or Western Psychological Services.
ADP	Assistive Devices Program (MOHLTC)	is to provide consumer centered support and funding to Ontario residents who have long-term physical disabilities and to provide access to personalized assistive devices appropriate for the individual’s basic needs.
AGRE	Autism Genetic Resource Exchange	is a DNA biobank funded by Autism Speaks. It exists to provide DNA specimens to geneticists who are researching autism.
AIA Network	Autism, Intolerance and Allergy Network	is an organization
AIT	Auditory Integration Training	is a procedure pioneered in France by Guy Bérard, who promoted it as a cure for clinical depression and suicidal tendencies, along with what he said were very positive results for dyslexia and autism,
ANDI	Autism Network for Dietary Intervention	provides information and support to parents around the world in dietary intervention
APD	Auditory Processing Disorder	is an umbrella term for a variety of disorders that affect the way the brain processes auditory information
APE	Adaptive Physical Education	is the art and science of developing, implementing, and monitoring a carefully designed physical education instructional program for a learner with a disability, based on a comprehensive assessment, to give the learner the skills necessary for a lifetime of rich leisure, recreation, and sport experiences to enhance physical fitness and wellness.
ARI	Autism Research Instititute	is primarily devoted to conducting research, and to disseminating the results ofresearch, on the causes of autism and on methods of preventing, diagnosing andtreating autism and other severe behavioral disorders of childhood.
ARRI	Autism Research Review International	ARI has published a quarterly newsletter, Autism Research Review International (ARRI), since 1987.
AS	Asperger Syndrome	an autism spectrum disorder that affects language and behavioral development in children.
ASA	Autism Society of America	The primary mission of ASAF is to raise and allocate funds to address the many unanswered questions about autism.
ASD	Autism Spectrum Disorder	A complex developmental disability that affects communication, socialization and behavior. Autism is called a spectrum disorder because it is defined by a set of behaviors and affects individuals differently and by varying degrees. Those on the autism spectrum can have difficulty with language such as understanding language and expressing selves using language, forming and maintaining social relationships, and/or repetitive behaviors or narrow, restricted interests. ASD’s include Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, Rett Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
ASL	American Sign Language	a form of sign language developed in the US and used also in English-speaking parts of Canada.
ASLU	Amerian Sign Language University	is a sign language resource site for ASL students and teachers.
ASPEN	Aspergers Syndrome Parent Education Network	ASPEN provides families and individuals whose lives are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders with support
ASPIE	A person with Asperger's Syndrome	People with Asperger’s syndrome have the following autistic symptoms – low capacity for communication and social interaction, restricted and repetitious stereotyped behaviors. The disabling symptoms of autism are found to be milder in people with Asperger’s. Some people with Asperger’s can be smarter than the average person. People with Asperger’s syndrome tend to have difficulty with understanding social conventions and reading social cues, so they may seem to be rude.
AUTCOM	Autism National Committee	Autism advocacy organization dedicated to 'Social Justice for All Citizens with Autism' through a shared vision and a commitment to positive approaches.Autism advocacy organization dedicated to 'Social Justice for All Citizens with Autism' through a shared vision and a commitment to positive approaches.
BBB	Blood Brain Barrier	is a highly selective permeability barrier that separates the circulating blood from the brain extracellular fluid (BECF) in the central nervous system (CNS)
BCBA	Board Certified Behavioral Analyst	is an attempt to provide some minimum standard for what constitutes being qualified to practice behavior analysis.
BIP	Behaviour Intervention Plan	behavioral supports is a plan that is based on the results of a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and, at a minimum, includes a description of the problem behavior, global and specific hypotheses as to why the problem behavior occurs and intervention strategies.
BMP	Behaviour Management Plan	assist a broad range of students deemed by the school to require additional support and guidance.
BOCES	Board of Cooperative Educational Services	In 1948 the New York State legislature created Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to provide shared educational programs and services to school districts within the state.
BP	Bi-Polar ( fomerly called "manic-depressive)	is a mental illnessthat brings severe high and low moods and changes in sleep, energy, thinking, and behavior.
BSC	Behavioral Services Unit	was one of the original instructional components of the FBI's Training Division at Quantico, Virginia.
BSU	Base Service Unit
CAN	Cure Autism Now	describes itself as an organization of parents, clinicians and leading scientists committed to accelerating the pace of biomedical research in autism through raising money for research projects, education and outreach.
CARD	Community Association for Riding for the Disabled	offers services for adults and children in Ontario.
CARS	Childhood Autism Rating Scale	is a behavior rating scale intended to help diagnose autism. CARS was developed by Eric Schopler, Robert J. Reichier, andBarbara Rochen Renner.
CAT or CT Scan	Computer Axial Tomography	a scan using an xray machine linked to a computer that produces a scan in cross sections using iodine (BEWARE if you are allergice to shellfish)
CBH	Community Behavioral Health	specializes in providing outpatient behavioral health services to children and adolescents in the school, home, and community settings.
CCBH	Communty Care Behavioral Health	a non-profit managed care organization, works with Providers to deliver innovative, accessible behavioral health services to Members.a non-profit managed care organization, works with Providers to deliver innovative, accessible behavioral health services to Members.
CDC	Center for Disease Control	is the leading national public health institute of the United States.
CF	Cassein Free	removing dairy from the diet
CFS	Chronic Fatigue Syndrome	is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition.
CFIDS	Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome	is a complex medical condition, characterized by long term fatigue and other symptoms.
CH.A.D.D.	Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Dioroder	Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Dioroder
DAN	Defeat Autism Now	Please proceed with caution
DD	Developmental Disabilities	Term used to refer to all developmental disabilities including autism
DDS	Department of Developmental Services	CT state agency
DMG	Dimethylglycine	Amino acid used in autism treatment
DSM	Diagnostic and Statistical Manual	Book listing the criteria for autism diagnosis.
DSS	Department of Social Services	CT state agency
DTI	Discrete Trial Intervention	A method of teaching based on behavioral techniques breaking content into small chunks and teaching individual tasks through trials.
DTT	Discrete Trial Training	A method of teaching based on behavioral techniques breaking content into small chunks and teaching individual tasks through trials.
DVD	Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia	See Developmental Apraxia or Speech (DAS)
EAHCA	Education for ALL Handicapped Children Act	The original name of IDEA
EEG	Electroenacephalogram	Test used to detect seizures
EFA	Essential Fatty Acids	The body for use makes some fatty acids, but some may not be able to be produced by the body and we must obtain them from an external source. These fatty acids that we cannot produce and must get from food are known as essential fatty acids.
ELAP	Early Learning Accomplishments Profile	Evaluation Checklist
ESY	Extended School Year	In the United states, an extended school year service was created to help students with disabilities. The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was created for this purpose.
FAPE	Free and Appropriate Public Edcuation	The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that every child who has a disability and needs special education and related services will receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE). Only for children in the USA.
FC	Faciliated Communication	Facilitators assist nonspeaking children with autism, schizophrenia, mental retardation, and other disorders by training them in the use of augmentative communication aids to help them overcome physical and emotional problems in using their aid. The facilitator guides the child’s shoulder, wrist, and hand to the letters on a computer keyboard or other nonelectronic system.
FEAT	Familes for Early Autism Treatment	Autism advocacy organization dedicated to applied behavioral analysis and techniques as intervention for autism
GARS	Gilliam Autism Rating Scale	Autism rating scale/checklist for diagnosis
GF	Gluten Free	Food that are sold containing no Gluten. Gluten free foods are for people with celiac disease. People with celiac diseases their small intestines are hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficult in digesting food.
HFA	High Functioning Autism	Descriptive term for someone with autism who usually has language skills and interact IQ
ID	Intellectually Disabled	The more appropriate term for someone with an IQ of less than 70
IDEA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act	The federal law that governs special education.
IEP	Individualized Education Plan	The plan this is developed by the team (IEP team and PPT team) that describes the educational programming for a child with a disability
IFSP	Individualized Family Service Plan	The plan put together in the Birth-3 system for services to be provided to a child under the age of 3 with a disability
INSAR	International Society For Autism Research	provides scientific collaboration, mentorship, and education to better the lives of the individuals and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
LCSW	Licensed Clinical Social Worker	a health-care professional that provides counseling and psychosocial services.
LD	Learning Disability or Learning Disabled	Learning disability is a medical term that labels those that consistently test below a certain IG level (usually 70) and who show functional impairment as a consequence of low IQ.
LKS	Landau-Kieffner Syndrome	A specific neurological disorder
LRE	Least Restrictive Environment	Under the law ( IDEA), children must be educated in the LRE for that child
M-CHAT	Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers	Autism screening tool
MR	Mentally Retarded	Usually refers toa person with an IQ under 70. More appropriately referred to as ID - Intellectually Disabled
MRI	Magnetic Resonance Imaging	a noninvasive clinical test that help physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. It uses powerful magnetic fields, radio frequency pulses and a computer to view the organs and the bodies structures in detail.
MSDD	Multisystem Developmental Disorder	Dr. Stanley Greenspan's term for autism-like symptoms.
NAS	National Autism Society	This is a charity that provides support for people with autism and Asperger syndrome and their families.
NICHCY	National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities	An information and referral center, providing free information about disabilities and issues related to them.
NIH	National Institute of Health	This is the US’s medical research agency. They look for fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and they attempt to apply such knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.
NIMH	National Institute for Mental Health	The US’s leading institute that research mental disorders, supporting research to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.
NOS	Not Otherwise Specified	Part of PDD-NOS an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis
NT	Neuro-Typical	Used to describe a person who does not have autism spectrum disorder
OCD	Obessive Compulsive Disorder	An anxiety disorder in where a person experiences unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/ or actions (compulsions).
OCR	Office for Civil Rights	US Government agency, part of Health and Human Services, that deals with discrimination and civil rights
ODD	Oppositional Defiant Disorder	A behavioural disorder characterized by a constant defiant. And hostile behaviour towards authority figures. The person may appear to be short tempered and argue a lot, and or other negative behaviours.
OT	Occupational Therapy	is the art and science of enabling engagement in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster health and well-being; and of enabling a just and inclusive society so that all people may participate to their potential in the daily occupations of life
OT	Occupational Therapists	are highly trained health-care professionals. All entry-level university education programs for occupational therapists in Canada currently grant a Master’s level credential
PANDAS	Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders Associated with Strep	occurs when strep triggers a misdirected immune response results in inflammation on a child’s brain.
PDD	Pervasive Developmental Disorder	An umbrella term- autism disorders are part of the larger category fo pervasive developmental disorders
PDD-NOS	Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified	This is the diagnosis applied to children or adults who are on the autism spectrum but do not fully meet the criteria for another Autism spectrum Disorder (ASD) such as autistic disorder. People with PDD-NOS exhibit challenges in social and language development.
PECS	Picture Exchange Communication System	A method used for communication using pictures and symbols.
PEP	Psycho-educational profile	Evaluating children, between the ages of 6 months to 7 years, with autism and communicative disabilities based on their skills and behaviors. This test is used as an assessment tool to aid in the educational programming for young children (ages 3-5 years old) with disabilities and is particularly useful in planning for older students' Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
PPT	Planning and Placement Team	The CT term for IEP team
PRT	Pivotal Response Training	This is a method of behavioural training for children with autism. It helps impart different skills in the child, such as – communication skills, language skills, a positive social behaviour, and relief from disruptive self-stimulatory behaviours.
PT	Physical Therapy /Therapist	Highly trained licensed health-care professionals that help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility.
SI	Sensory Integration	The way the brain processes sensory information, such as hearing, looking, touching, and more.
SIB	Self Injurious Behvaior	The most common forms of these behaviors include: head-banging, hand-biting, and excessive self-rubbing and scratching.
SID	Sensory Integration Disorder	is a condition in which the brain has trouble receiving and responding to information that comes in through the senses.
SLP	Speech Language Pathologist	A person trained to diagnose and treat speech and language disorders.
SSI	Social Security Income	The monetary benefitsreceived by retired workers who have paid in to the Social Securitysystem during their working years.The monetary benefitsreceived by retired workers who have paid in to the Social Securitysystem during their working years.
SSRI	Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor	are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants.
STIM	Self-Stimulating Behaviors	Example of stimming may include rocking, flapping of hands, or humming. For a person with autism, a stim may serve as a regulatory function to calm down, increase concentration, or shut out an overwhelming sound
TEACCH	Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children	is a clinical, training, and research program based at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
TS	Tourette's Syndrome	is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics.