Definition

ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act

ADD

Attention Deficit Disorder

ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

AFDC

Aid to Families with Dependent Children

ALJ

Administrative Law Judge

APE

Adapted Physical Education

ARC / Arc

Advocates, Resources, and Counseling or simply the Arc, or the Association for Retarded Citizens ( old national name )

ASD

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

BD

Behavioral Disability

CAC

Community Advisory Committee

CD

Communication Disorder

CDBS

California Deaf-Blind services ( or other state )

CDC

Child Development Center

CDMRC

Child Development Mental Retardation Center

CDS

Communication Disorders Specialist ( Speech Therapist )

CEC

Council for Exceptional Children

CFR

Code of Federal Regulations

CHADD

Children with Attention Deficit Disorder

CHAP

Children Have a Potential (Air Force handicap assistance title)

CHRMC

Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center

CNS

Children's Nervous System

CP

Cerebral Palsy

CSHCN

Children with Special Health Care Needs Program

DCFS

Department of Child and Family Services / DSHS

DD

Developmentally Delayed or Developmentally Disabled

DDD

Department of Developmental Disabilities / DSHS

DDPC

Developmental disability Planning Council

DH

Developmentally Handicapped ( 3-5 year old funding label )

DHH

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

DPC

Developmental Planning Council

DS

Down Syndrome

DSHS

Department of Social and Health Services

DVR

Division of Vocational Rehabilitation

EEG

Electroencephalogram

EEU

Experimental Education Unit / CDMRC ( Univ. of Wash. )

EHA

Education for the Handicapped Act of 1975

ESD

Education Service District

FAPE

Free and Appropriate Public Education

FRC

Family Resource Coordinator

FY

Fiscal Year

HB

House Bill

HI

Hearing Impaired or Health Impaired

ICC

Interagency Coordinating Council

IDEA

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IEP

Individualized Education Plan

IFSP

Individualized Family Service Plan

IHE

Institute of Higher Education

IHP

Individual Habilitation Plan

IPP

Individual Program Plan

ITT

Individual Transition Plan

I & R

Information and Referral

JRA

Juvenile rheumatoid Arthritis

LD

Learning Disability

LEA

Local Education Agency ( School District )

LLD

Learning Language Disability

LRE

Least Restrictive Environment

MCHB

Maternal and Child Health Bureau

MD

Muscular Dystrophy

MDT

Multidisciplinary Team

MH

Multiple Handicaps

MMR

Mildly Mentally Retarded

MR

Mentally Retarded

MS

Multiple Sclerosis

MUMS

Mothers United for Moral Support

NFN

National Fathers' Network

NORD

National Organization for Rare Disorders

NPND

National Parent Network on Disabilities

OCR

Office for Civil Rights

OSERS

Office Of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

OCSHCN

Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs ( or CSHCN )

OSPI

Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction

OT

Occupational Therapy/Therapist

PAC

Parent Advisory Council

PACT

Parents and Children Togather

PAVE

Parents Are Vital in Education

P & A

Protection and Advocacy

PDD

Pervasive Developmental Delays

PEERS

Providing Education to Everyone in Regular Schools

PHN

Public Health Nurse

PL

Public Law

PNS

Peripheral Nervous System

P2P

Parent to Parent

PPP

People for Positive Parenting

PPS

Pupil Personnel Services

PRO

Parents Reaching Out

PT

Physical Therapy / Therapist

PTI

Parent Training Information Center

RCW

Revised Code of Washington ( or other state )

RSA

Rehabilitation Service Administration

SAFE

Schools Are For Everyone

SB

Senate Bill

SCIA

Special Children's Intervention Association

SDC

Special Day Class

SEA

State Education Agency

SED

Special Education Division

SELPA

Special Education Local Planning Area

SEPAC

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

SH

Severely Handicapped

SKIP

Sick Kids Need Involved Parents

SLD

Specific Learning Disability and / or Severe Language Disorder

SSI

Supplemental Security Income ( for the disabled )

STOMP

Specialized Training of Military Parents

SW

Social Work / Social Worker

TACID

Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities ( or other city )

TACID

The Association for People with Severe Handicaps

TDD

Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf/Hearing Impaired

UCP

United Cerebral Palsy Associastion

USD

Unified School District

VI

Visually Impaired

VSA

Very Special Arts ( or simply VSA )

WAC

Washington ( or other state ) Administrative Code ( Legislative )

WACLD

Washington Association for Children and Adults with Learning Disabilities ( or other state )

WAEHI

Washington Association for the Education of the Hearing Impaired ( or other state )

WAEVI

Washington Association for the Education of the Visually Impaired ( or other state )

WSFN

Washington State Fathers Network

Note: All acronyms are subject to change, modification or elimination.

This webpage is to serve as a beginning place for understanding and further investigation.

Adapted from materials provided by PAVE, Pierce County, Tacoma, WA, and California Deaf-blind Services, El Toro, CA -- compiled by James May, Washington State Fathers Network, Bellevue, WA

Jun-02