AAC - Augmentative and Alternative Communication: communication through nonverbal means.

ABA- Applied Behavior Analysis:  An approach to teaching skills to people with autism that uses positive reinforcement and the collection of data to determine the level of progress in attaining a given goal.  This technique is also sometimes referred to as the Lovaas method.

Accommodations:  Changes in format, response, setting, timing or scheduling that do not alter in any significant way what the test measures or the comparability of scores.  Examples are having extra time to finish a test or testing in a smaller, quieter environment.

ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act: Federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation and telecommunications.

ADD or ADHD- Attention Deficit Disorder/ Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:  A behavioral disorder characterized by short attention span, excessive impulsiveness, and inappropriate hyperactivity.

Advocate:  Someone who takes action to help someone else (as in "educational advocate"); also, to take action on someone's behalf.

AIT - Auditory Integration Therapy: Many individuals with autism tend to have hypersensitive hearing.  In this approach, children listen to different musical sounds and frequencies to re-attune their hearing and sensory processing.

Animal Assisted Therapy or Animal Therapy may include horseback riding, working with trained dogs or swimming with dolphins. Therapeutic riding programs provide both physical and emotional benefits, improving coordination and motor development, while creating a sense of well-being and increasing self-confidence (ASA 2008).

APE -Adapted Physical Education:  Special physical education provided by an adapted physical education specialist who assists children with motor activities such as balance, climbing and other gross motor skills.

Art Therapy:  According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapyuses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages. It is based on the belief that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people to resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, increase self-esteem and self-awareness, and achieve insight.

AS -Asperger’s Syndrome: one of the types of autism characterized by difficulties in social interaction and by restricted, stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities. AS is distinguished from the other ASDs in having no general delay in language or cognitive development. Although not mentioned in the diagnostic criteria, motor clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported.

ASA- Autism Society of America

ASD -Autism Spectrum Disorders:  Psychological conditions characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication, as well as severely restricted interests and highly repetitive behavior.  The group includes autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, Asperger’s Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett Syndrome.

Aspie: slang for someone with Asperger’s Syndrome

AT -Assistive Technology: any item, piece of equipment, or product system, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.  Examples commonly used for individuals with autism include visual schedules, PECS, calculators, voice response units.

Behavioral support plan:  A written document, supplementing the IEP; a proactive action plan to address behavior(s) impeding learning that include positive behavioral interventions, strategies, and supports.

BIP - Behavior Intervention Plan:  A written document, based upon a functional analysis assessment, which is developed when a student exhibits a serious behavior problem that significantly interferes with the implementation of the goals and objectives of the student’s IEP.

CAHSEE – California High School Exit Exam:  A competency test that California public school students will be required to pass in order to receive a high school diploma. On July 28, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill ABX4, which, beginning in 2009–10, would exempt an eligible student from meeting the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) requirement as a condition for graduation.  An eligible student as defined in the law is a student with a disability who has an individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan that indicates that the student has satisfied or will satisfy all other state and local requirements to receive a high school diploma on or after July 1, 2009. Students with disabilities are required to take the CAHSEE in grade ten for purposes of fulfilling the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Chelation:  administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body (lead, mercury, cadmium, etc). 

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT):  identifies ineffective thinking and self defeating behaviors and offers new positive and supportive ways of coping with life’s challenges.  Sometimes used to treat depression, anxiety and anger.  (Mental Health Matters & mental-health-matters.com © 2000-2005)

Cognitive Disability:  Another term for mental retardation; used when there is a below-average cognitive ability.

Comic Strips:  Developed by Carol Gary, this is a visual representation of a conversation between two or more people which incorporates the use of simple drawings. These drawings serve to illustrate an on-going communication, providing additional support to individuals who struggle to comprehend the quick exchange of information which occurs in a conversation. (www.thegraycenter.org)

Community Advisory Council (CAC): A group of parents of children with disabilities, members of the community, students and special education professionals who advise the school board and school district administration about special education programs.

CARS - Childhood Autism Rating Scale: a commonly used diagnostic tool

CHAT -CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers:  a common screening tool that can be used for children as young as 18 months.

Compliance Complaint: Complaint filed with the California Department of Education by a person who feels that a special education law has been violated. Most common would be a service as specified in an IEP that is not being implemented. 

DAN!- Defeat Autism Now!:  A treatment approach that focuses on the connections between autism and diet, along with other physiological issues.  This treatment involves a series of medical tests and dietary and nutritive regimens designed to alleviate autistic symptoms.  See www.autismresearchinstitute.org.

DTT - Discrete Trial Training:  Also known as the term applied to Lovaas's ABA-based method for treating autistic children, and it has been used as a term for the "drilling" aspect of ABA. The term is also often used in a less specific way, as a synonym for ABA.

DIR -Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-based: also known as “Play Therapy.” A type of therapy with that uses the strategy of teaching children with developmental problems through the use of interactive play and relationships.

DIS - Designated Instruction and Services: Sometimes called related services; specialized instruction and/or support services identified through an assessment and written in an IEP as necessary for a child to benefit from special education (e.g. speech/language therapy, vision services, etc.).

Developmental Delay: A term used to describe the development of children when they are not able to perform the skills that other children of the same age usually are able to perform.

DSM-IV Diagnostic Statistical Manual, 4th Revision:  a handbook for mental health professionals that lists different categories of mental disorders and the criteria for diagnosing them, according to the publishing organization the American Psychiatric Association.

Due Process: The procedures used to make sure parents and educators make fair decisions about the identification, assessment and placement of children with disabilities; due process rights are guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Echolalia: repetition of speech heard by others, can be either immediate or delayed

ED -Emotionally Disturbed: A disability; having a behavior problem which prevents learning and/or getting along with other people. The behavior must have continued for at least six months and be severe. (Formerly SED "seriously emotionally disturbed".)

Facilitated Communication (FC): this method is based on the idea that the person is unable to communicate because of a movement disorder, not because of a lack of communication skills. FC involves a facilitator who, by supporting an individual's hand or arm, helps the person communicate through the use of a computer or typewriter.  This method assists the person with the impairment to either point to or press the keys of a communication device.  If successful, the individual who was previously unable to communicate can do so through typing or spelling out words.   

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): The purpose of this Act is to set out requirements for the protection of privacy of parents and students.

Functional analysis assessment (FAA)  A detailed, individual assessment of the student to determine the function the behavior serves.

FAPE -Free and Appropriate Public Education:  One of the key requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Requires that an education program be provided for all school age children (regardless of handicapping condition) without cost to families.

GF/CF -Gluten free/casein free: Total avoidance of all gluten (wheat, oats and rye) products and all casein (dairy) products. While not a specific cause of autism, it is thought that these food intolerances or allergies may contribute to behavioral issues. Visit Autism Research Institute

Goals: A list of skills and/or behaviors that a parent, teacher and child will be aiming for over the next year. They are based on the child's needs.

HBOT -Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:  a type of treatment that uses the administration of 100 percent oxygen at a controlled pressure (greater than sea level) for a prescribed amount of time—usually 60 to 90 minutes.

HFA -High Functioning Autism: Not an official diagnostic term and there is no consensus on what the term actually means. Some people will apply it to average or above-average intelligence and have the ability to communicate verbally.  Note:  This label is being used less and the term Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is being used more.  It is widely accepted that many of our children do not test well on IQ tests and because of their communication difficulties, aren’t able to communicate what they truly know.  There are also individuals who are non-verbal that are more social and have more living skills than others who are verbal.                                                                                                                            

IDEA -Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:  The federal law that mandates and regulates special education services for all children with disabilities ages 0-21.

IBI - Intensive Behavior Intervention:  Systematic use of behavioral teaching techniques and intervention procedures, intensive direct instruction by a trained person.  This term is sometimes used interchangeably with ABA. 

IEP -Individualized Education Program: A written educational plan for the student with special needs, developed by a team, including the student if appropriate, the student’s parent or legal guardian, special education teacher, regular education teacher if appropriate, and district representative/school administrator, and others with knowledge or special expertise regarding the child.

IFSP - Individual Family Service Plan: Each eligible infant or toddler has an IFSP. The individual family service plan is in place of the IEP. 

IHSS- In Home Supportive Services:  provides people who are blind, disabled, or over the age of 65 with personal assistance and in-home support services so they can live safely in their homes. Services range from assistance with household chores to personal care such as dressing and bathing to paramedical services. The program is often seen as an alternative to assisted living or nursing facilities.

Inclusion: Being part of a whole. Educationally, it used when children with special needs are educated in general education classrooms for all or a portion of the school day.

Intellectual disability:  The newer term for mental retardation; used when there is a below-average cognitive ability.

IPP -  Individualized Program Plan: The plan outlining services an individual will receive from a Regional Center.

IRC- Inland Regional Center:  One of 21 Regional Centers across the state, which provide services to and service coordination of eligible children and families.

Lanterman Act: California law that establishes the rights of persons with developmetnal disbilities to services and supports they need and choose. This law is administered through the Department of Developmental Services and services are provided through the California Regional Center system.

LD- Learning Disabled: A disability; a child's regular education classroom performance is significantly below expected levels; also a disability category containing the currently used labels of severely learning disabled, and mentally handicapped.

LRE- Least Restrictive Environment:  A term meaning that children with disabilities must be educated (to the maximum extent appropriate) with children without disabilities.

Mainstreaming: A term referring to the time during which a special education student participates in chronologically age-appropriate regular education activities, either academic or non-academic (e.g., math and reading or lunch, recess and art).

MCHAT- Modified CHecklist for Autism in Toddlers:  The expanded American version of the CHAT,  a common screening tool that can be used for children 16-30 months.  Consists of 23 item checklist for identifying autism.

Mediation: A meeting of parents and school district personnel aimed at reaching an agreement regarding the child's educational program. This is also a part of the fair hearing process with the regional center.

Medi-Cal: California's public program that pays for health and long term care services for low-income Californians, as well as others with very high medical expenses. Medi-Cal offers two types of coverage: Fee for Service and Managed Care. Eligibility rules apply. Also known as Medicaid.

Medi-Cal Waivers: These waivers allow some children with special needs, whose parents are over income limits, to qualify for Medi-Cal benefits. Waivers are administered by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) or by the In-Home Operations division of Medi-Cal. Eligibility rules apply.

Modifications:  Changes that alter what the test is supposed to measure or the comparability of scores. Examples of modifications are using a calculator, or having a test read out loud.

Multidisciplinary: The involvement of two or more disciplines or professions in the provision of services.

MR - Mentally Retardation:  A developmental disability involving below-average general intellectual functioning. Originates during the developmental period (before the age of 18) and is associated with impairment in adaptive behavior.

Music Therapy: uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals of all ages.  Also works on speech development and language comprehension. Songs can be used to teach language and increase the ability to put words together.

Non-public school (NPS): A private placement under contract with the district and certified by the state, to service pupils with disabilities whose needs can not be served by the special education. 

Nonverbal Communication:  Signals and messages from one person to one or more other people through facial expressions, body movements, verbal tone, or posture.

Neurofeedback Therapy, also known as EEG biofeedback: uses computer technology with an EEG, which measures brain waves, to provide a process for training and regulating your brain.

NT- Nuerotypical: slang term used by people with autism to refer to people who do not have autism.

Objectives: The steps to be accomplished to reach the child's goal(s). Objectives serve as a guide for planning and carrying out learning activities.

OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:  A psychiatric disorder characterized by obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions, such as cleaning, checking, counting, or hoarding.

OT -Occupational Therapy:  focuses on tasks and activities that are encompassed in everyday daily living.  Activities that are included in self care, play, education, and work.  Some children have difficulties with orienting, registering, modulating, and discriminating sensory information.  Occupational therapists (OT's) will address difficulties in these areas by assessing and working on strengthening muscles, compensatory techniques, environmental changes, organization, and processing information. 

PDD -Pervasive Developmental Disorder:  Another way to describe the 5 categories of Autism Spectrum Disorders. As a diagnosis, same as PDD-NOS.

PDD-NOS -Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified:  This would be considered the milder form of autism.  Individuals with this disorder share some of the same signs and symptoms of autism, but do not meet all of the criteria for diagnosis.  This could because of late age onset, the child does not exhibit all the necessary symptoms, or the child may be very young children and a physician may choose to wait to see how the symptoms progress.

PECS -Picture Exchange Communication System: a method of communication using picture symbols. This system uses ABA-based methods to teach children to exchange a picture for something they want - an item or activity.  The child hands you a picture, and his or her request is immediately understood. 

Perseveration:  Obsessive-like continued immediate repetition of a behavior or thought

Pica:  Ingestion of nonfood items.

Pivotal Response Training (PRT):  targets behaviors to be taught in natural environments using items that are age appropriate and reinforcing to the child. A principle area of intervention concentration is communication. Children are taught to respond to multiple cues and stimuli, improve motivation, increase self management capacity and increase self initiations.

Pragmatics:  Refers to non-verbal and verbal aspects of communication such as volume of voice, turn taking, eye contact, attention, asking and answering questions and understanding social boundaries during conversation.

PT -Physical Therapy: Therapy that assists the child with gross motor and balance issues suchas sitting, crawling, walking and running.  

RDI -Relationship Development Intervention: program based upon the model of Experience Sharing developed by Steven Gutstein Ph.D. The program educates and coaches parents of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and others who interact and work with the child. A primary focus for RDI consultants is on helping parents systematically teach their children with ASD the motivation for and skills of Experience Sharing Interaction

Reinforcement:  Procedures that make the desired behaviors more likely to occur, e.g., praise.

Related services: Transportation and developmental, corrective and other support services that a child with disabilities requires in order to benefit from education. Examples are speech pathology and audiology, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, counseling services, interpreters for the hearing impaired, and medical services for diagnostic and evaluation purposes.

Resource Specialist Program (RSP): Students who can participate in regular education may also receive special education instruction in the RSP. These students can receive services within the classroom, or can be "pulled out" of the regular education classroom for special assistance during specific periods of the day or week and are taught by credentialed teachers with resource specialist authorization.

SABA – Systematic Applied Behavior Analysis:  Another term for ABA.

Savant:  an autistic individual who has an extraordinary gift in a specific area usually math, art, and music.  

SDC - Special day class: Special education service setting comprised entirely of special education students.

SELPA- Special Education Local Planning Area:  Individual district, group of districts, or districts and County Office of Education which forms a consortium to ensure that a full continuum of special education services is available to all eligible students within its boundaries. 

Sensory Defensive:  an individual who is over-sensitive to sensory input

Sensory Diet:  An activity plan that includes specific activities designed to decrease sensory defensiveness.  Timing, intensity, and sensory qualities of these activities are highlighted.

Sensory Seeking:  an individual who craves and seeks out a variety of sensory sensation

SI -Sensory Integration: Now called Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD).  Term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses.

SIB- Self Injurious Behavior:  behaviors that cause injury to the individual; head banging, biting, etc. 

SDC - Special Day Class: Intensive instruction for students with disabilities who require special education instruction for more than 50% of the school day.

Sign language: Sign language was originally developed in order to provide a communication system for people with hearing-impairments, but is sometimes taught to children with autism (Edelson, 2005; Mirenda, 2003). Typically, when children with autism are trained in sign language, they are trained are usually taught using the “Signed English” method (Edelson, 2005), not American Sign Language. Children are taught using sign language and verbal communication at the same time (Mirenda, 2005). For more information visit “Alternative Augmentative Communication” and “Signed Speech or Simultaneous Communication”

SLP- Speech Language Pathologist: provides speech therapy

Social Skills – Positive, appropriate, social behaviors that are generally considered necessary to communicate and interact with others.

SPD- Sensory Processing Disorder: a commonly seen condition seen among those with autism spectrum disorders ; formerly known as SI (Sensory Integration Dysfunction).  According to the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation, SPD is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses.  A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks.

Social Stories: Developed by Carol Gray as a tool for teaching social skills to children with ASD. They address "Theory of Mind" deficits, that is, the ability to understand or recognize feelings, points of view or plans of others. Through a story developed about a particular situation or event, the child is provided with as much information as possible to help him or her understand the expected or appropriate response.

Speech Therapy:  a variety of techniques can be used by a Speech Pathologist to improve impairments in oral motor control, pitch of voice, conversations, increasing vocabulary, retelling stories, semantics, and pragmatics (a person’s use and interpretation of verbal and nonverbal language in social interactions).  For non-speaking individuals, speech-language pathologists design augmentative and alternative communication systems. Clinical evidence indicates that children and adults with ASD benefit from assessment and intervention services provided by speech-language pathologists - “Treatment Efficacy Study.” 

SSI- Supplemental Security Income: Federal income in the form of monthly payments to people who have low income and few resources for disabled, blind children or 65 years or older. More information visit Benefits For Children With Disabilities

SSDI -Social Security Disability Insurance: Federal programdesigned to provide income to people who are unable to work because of a disability.

"Stay Put" or “Stay Put Order”: A legal judgment requiring that a child with a disability remain in his or her current educational placement unless the parents of the child agree otherwise. 

Stim:  Short for self-stimulation or perseveration, examples are rocking, spinning, or humming

TEACCH - Treatment and Education of Autism and Related Communication and Handicapped Children.  A structured teaching intervention develop by Division TEACCH of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Uses a structured teaching approach based on the idea that the environment should be adapted to the child with ASD, not the child to the environment. It uses no one specific technique, but rather a program based around the child's functioning level.  Rather than teach a specific skill or behavior, the TEACCH approach aims to provide the child with the skills to understand his or her world and other people's behaviors. 

Theory of Mind – the ability for a person to realize that others have different thoughts, beliefs and desires than they do.

Transition: Process of preparing a student to function in future environments and emphasizing movement from one educational program to another (e.g., infant program to preschool or from school to work.) 

Video modeling: an instructional process of teaching an individual a skill or behavior using video.  Studies have shown that videos depicting exemplary behaviors can be effective in helping children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders develop social skills and daily living skills (Bellini, S. & Akullian, J. 2007).

Vision Therapy:  addresses vision skills, vision related learning problems.  A Developmental or Behavioral Optometrist can provide sensory motor and/or educational activities to strengthen eye motor control, eye hand coordination, depth perception and visual perception.

Visual Supports/Schedule:  Written schedules, lists, charts, picture sequence, and other visuals that convey meaningful information in a permanent format for later reference.  Visual supports allow the person with autism to function more independently without constant verbal directions.

Vitamin & Mineral Supplements: Formore then a decade, claims have been made that vitamin and mineral supplements may improve the symptoms of autism.  While not all researchers agree about whether these therapies are scientifically proven, many parent, and an increasing number of physicians, report improvement in people with ASD when using individual or combined nutritional supplements.  Visit ASA’s Biomedical & Dietary Approaches page.

504 -Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: A civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities, public and private, that receive federal financial assistance. Any person is protected who (1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (2) has a record of such an impairment, or (3) is regarded as having such an impairment. Major life activities include walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, caring for oneself, and performing manual tasks.