THE ABC ’S OF SPECIAL NEEDS
ABA Applied Behavior Analysis
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADL Activities of Daily Living
ALJ Administrative Law Judge
ALT-MSA Alternative Maryland School Assessment
APE Adaptive Physical Education
ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder
AT Assistive Technology
AYP Annual Yearly Progress
BIP Behavior Intervention Plan
BMP Behavior Management Plan
CAPD Central Auditory Processing Disorder
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CME Care Management Entity
COMAR Code of Maryland Regulations
CP Cerebral Palsy
DB Deaf Blind
DD Developmental Disability or
Developmental Delay
DDA Developmental Disabilities Administration,
Maryland Department of Health
DDC Developmental Disabilities Council
DORS Division of Rehabilitation Services,
Maryland State Department of Education
ED Emotional Disturbance
EI Early Intervention
ESY Extended School Year services
FAPE Free Appropriate Public Education
FBA Functional Behavioral Assessment
FERPA Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FSS Family Support Services
HFA High Functioning Autism
HSA (Maryland) High School Assessments
IAES Interim Alternative Educational Setting
IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IEP Individualized Education Program
IFSP Individualized Family Service Plan
IPE Individualized Plan for Employment
ISS Individual Support Services
LCC Local Coordinating Council
LD Learning Disabilities
LEA Local Educational Agency
LEP Limited English Proficiency
LISS Low-Intensity Support Services
LITP Local Infants and Toddlers Program
LMB Local Management Board
LRE Least Restrictive Environment
LSS Local School System
MA Medical Assistance or Mental Age
MANSEF Maryland Association of Nonpublic
Special Education Facilities
MD Muscular Dystrophy
MDH Maryland Department of Health
MDLC Maryland Disability Law Center
MITP Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program
M-PAC Maryland’s Parent Advisory Council
MR Mental Retardation
MSA Maryland School Assessment
MSDE Maryland State Department of Education
NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NLD/NVLD Nonverbal Learning Disability
OAH Office of Administrative Hearings
OCD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCR Office for Civil Rights,
U.S. Department of Education
OGCSHCN Office for Genetics and Children
with Special Health Care Needs,
Maryland Department of Health
OHI Other Health Impairment
OT Occupational Therapy
P&A Protection and Advocacy Agency
PBIS Positive Behavioral Interventions
and Supports
PBS Positive Behavioral Support
PLOP Present Level of Performance
PT Physical Therapy
RTI Response to Intervention
SCC State Coordinating Council
SEA State Education Agency
SECAC Special Education Citizens’
Advisory Committee
SICC State Interagency Coordinating Council
SLD Specific Learning Disability
SPD Sensory Processing Disorder
SSA Social Security Administration
SSI Supplemental Security Income
SST Student Support Team
ST Speech Therapy
TBI Traumatic Brain Injury
TDD Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
TS Tourette Syndrome
TTY Teletypewriter (for the hearing
or speech impaired)
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