Glossary

ABA……………………. Applied Behavior Analysis (therapy method)

AC……………………….Individuals with autism and Cousins

ADD…………………….Attention Deficit Disorder

ADHD………………….Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADOS…………………..Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule

AIT……………………..Auditory Integration Therapy

APD…………………….Auditory Processing Disorder

AS……………………….Asperger’s Syndrome

AS……………………….Autistic Spectrum

ASA…………………… Autism Society of America

ASL…………………….American Sign Language

ASPIE…………………A person with Asperger’s Syndrome

Aphasia ………………Loss of ability to use or understand words.

Apraxia………………. A neurologically-based disorder which occurs in adults, often (but not exclusively) as a consequence of stroke. The person has difficult sequencing movements in the service of a goal. e.g., he may have the ability to raise his arm and to wave his hand, but not when he consciously intends to do so. Apraxia may be specific to speech (e.g., “apraxia of speech”) or to the movement of other body parts (e.g., “limb apraxia”).  Apraxia can also be diagnosed in children diagnosed with autism or other pervasive developmental disorder.

Autistic Savant……An individual with autism who displays incredible aptitude for one or two skills.

AVB…………………….Applied Verbal Behavior

BOCES…………………Board of Cooperative Educational Services

CARS…………………..Childhood Autism Rating Scale

CCS……………………..California Children Services

CDC…………………….Center For Disease Control and Prevention

COUSIN………………Someone who has some autistic-spectrum characteristics to the extent that he/she can identify with autistic folks even if not formally diagnosed.)

CSE……………………..Committee for Special Education

DAN……………………Defeat Autism Now; a protocol for the assessment of the underlying disorders that is causing the autism.

DD………………………Development Disability

DH………………………Developmentally Handicapped

DHS…………………….Department of Health Services

DSM……………………Diagnostic Statistical Manual

DSMR………………….Diagnostic Statistical Manual (Revised)

DSS……………………..Department of Social Services

DTT……………………Discrete Trial Training. The term applied to Lovaas’s ABA-based method for treating autistic children with autism. The term is also often used in a less specific way, as a synonym for ABA.

DX………………………Diagnosis

ED………………………Emotionally Disturbed

EEG…………………….ElectroEncephaloGram

ECG…………………….ElectroCardioGram

Echolalia…………….Repeating back something said to you. Delayed Echolalia is repeating it later. Both behaviors are found in many individuals with autism. Functional echolalia is using a quoted phrase in a way that has shared meaning

ESD…………………….Educational Service District

FAS…………………….Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

FDA……………………Food and Drug Administration

GFCF………………….Gluten Free / Casein Free (Gluten is wheat free/casein usually dairy free-suspected issue with a number of individuals with autism)

HFA…………………..High Functioning Autism

Hypotonia…………Low muscle tone.

IBS…………………….Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Incidental Teaching………Teaching strategy where goals and objectives are taught within naturally occurring activities and takes advantage of the child’s interest and motivation.

IDEA…………………Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IEP……………………Individual Education Plan

IFSP………………….Individualized Family Service Plan

IPP……………………Individual Program Plan

IQ……………………..Intelligence Quotient

InLv………………….Independent Living (support group)

LAUSD………………Los Angeles Unified School District

LVUSD………………Las Virgenes Unified School District

LD……………………..Learning Disability

LLD…………………..Language-based Learning Disability

LRE…………………..Least Restrictive Environment

Mainstreaming…Placement of a child with a disability with non-disabled peers in a regular classroom.

M-D…………………..Manic Depression (Bipolar depression)

MDT………………….Multidisciplinary Team (teacher, SLP, OT, psych and Parents! Used in reference to the group of individuals who is a part of development and implementation of an IEP).

MR…………………….Mental Retardation, Mentally Retarded (IQ less than 70)

MRI…………………..Magnetic Resonance Imaging

NET…………………..Natural Environment Training

NLACRC……………North Los Angeles County Regional Center

NOS…………………..Not Otherwise Specified, usually seen as PDD-NOS

NOS…………………..Not of Specific Origin

NS……………………..Noonan’s Syndrome

OCD…………………..Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder

ODD…………………. Oppositional Defiant Disorder

OT……………………. Occupational Therapist

OT……………………. Occupational Therapy

PDD…………………..Pervasive Developmental Disorder

PDR…………………..Physician’s Desk Reference

PT……………………. Physical Therapist

RSP……………………Resource Specialist Program

SI………………………Sensory Integration

SELPA……………….Special Education Local Plan Area

SLP……………………Speech Language Pathologist

SSI-DC………………Supplimental Security Income-Disabled Child

STIM…………………(e.g. stimming) short for “self-stimulation”, a term for behaviors whose sole purpose appears to be to stimulate one’s own senses. An example is rocking one’s body. Many people with autism report that some ‘self stims’ may serve a regulatory function for them (ie. calming, adding concentration, shutting out an overwhelming sound). Other examples: hand-flapping, toe-walking, spinning, echolalia.

TEACCH…………..Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Disorders

TOM…………………Theory of Mind

TS……………………. Tourette’s Syndrome

UCP…………………..United Cerebral Palsy

VABS………………..Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales test sometimes used to evaluate students possibly requiring special education.

WISC-III…………..Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – III

WJPEB – R…………Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery – Revised

WPPSI – R………….Wechsler Pre-School and Primary Scale of Intelligence – Revised

WRAT 3……………..Wide Range Achievement Test – Revision 3

WIC……………………Women/Infant/Children Supplemental Food Program