There’s a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to change into beautiful bold fall colors. It’s a great time to put on those sweaters, relax by the fire, and maybe sit down to a nice warm bowl of soup. Today Hickman & Lowder is happy to serve you some Alphabet Soup!
The Special Education world is chock full of acronyms that make it even more difficult to understand and communicate with your child’s educators. We want to make it easier for you. We just hosted our annual Exceptional Mom’s Day event last weekend (SO…MUCH…FUN!) and had a friendly contest between two brave moms to see who could decode the most. The moms ran neck and neck and had to be “saved” by the audience when they were both stumped. Both walked away laughing and smiling, but one had a fresh floral arrangement in hand to take home with her that day. Winner!
Here are the words from our list. How many do you know off the top of your head? Don’t be too concerned if you don’t know the words exactly – focus on the meaning behind it. Maybe next year we’ll compete to see who can define the terms… I’m thinking we might need to upgrade the prize. 😉
Acronyms for Special Education
ABA Applied Behavior Analysis
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
APE Adapted Physical Education
BIP Behavior Intervention Plan
DD Developmental Delay
ED Emotional Disturbance
ESY Extended School Year
ETR Evaluation Team Report
FAPE Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA Functional Behavior Assessment
FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IEE Independent Education Evaluation
IEP Individual Education Program
MH Multiple Handicap
OCR Office of Civil Rights
ODE Ohio Department of Education
OHI Other Health Impairment
O&M Orientation and Mobility
OT Occupational Therapy
PBS Positive Behavioral Supports
PLOP Present Level of Performance
PT Physical Therapy
SLD Specific Learning Disability
SLP Speech and Language Pathologist
SNT Special Needs Trust
TVI Teach of Visually Impaired