The Autism News – Useful Links
The Autism News | English
Information about the autism spectrum
- Asperger syndrome
- Autism spectrum
- Childhood disintegrative disorder
- Conditions comorbid to autism spectrum disorders
- Fragile X syndrome
- High-functioning autism
- Multiple-complex Developmental Disorder
- Pathological demand avoidance
- PDD-NOS
- Pervasive developmental disorder
- Rett syndrome
- Savant syndrome
- Semantic pragmatic disorder
Commonly Used Acronyms & Definitions
AAC | Augmentative and Alternative Communication
ABA | Applied Behavior Analysis
ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act
Adaptive Behaviors | The ability to adjust to environments, tasks, objects, or people, and to apply skills to situations. Refers to skills for meeting personal and social demands of one’s environment.
ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder
ADHD | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ARC | Association for Retarded Citizens of the United States
ASA | Autism Society of America
Asperger’s Disorder | Medically diagnosed syndrome with similarities to high-functioning autism. Assessment Process by which an individual’s strengths and weaknesses are identified. Includes formal and informal testing and observations; term is often used interchangeably with evaluation.
Autism | Autism is difficult to define and there are a variety of definitions. It is a developmental disability and a neurophysiological disorder. It is diagnosed through observed characteristics and social behaviors. It is a life-long communication, sensory, and interactional disability. It varies in severity across individuals but is treatable.
BD | Behavior Disorder
CA | Chronological Age
CEC| Council for Exceptional Children
CFR | Code of Federal Regulations
Childhood Disintegrative | This is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) as one of the pervasive developmental disorders. It is characterized by progressive regression in motor, language and cognitive skills.
CIL | Center for Independent Living
DD | Developmental Disability; Developmental Delay; Disability Determinations
DESE | Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Developmental Disability | A handicap or impairment originating before the age of 18 which constitutes a substantial disability and that may be expected to continue indefinitely.
DFS | Division of Family Services
Diagnostic & Statistical | A manual published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that describes all of
the diagnostic criteria and systematic descriptions of various mental disorders.
DMH | Department of Mental Health
DSM-IV | Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-Fourth Edition
Echolalia | Repetition of phrases or words; may be immediate or delayed.
ECSE | Early Childhood Special Education
ED | Emotional Disturbance; Emotional Disorder
Effective Practice | Any valid procedure supporting learning growth in students with autism. May or may not
be researched-based.
EHA | Education of all Handicapped Act (PL94-142)
ESYP | Extended School Year Program
Expressive Language | The ability to use gestures, oral speech, or written symbols to communicate.
FAPE | Free and Appropriate Public Education
FERPA | Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (Buckley Amendment)
IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (formerly EHA)
IEP | Individualized Education Program
IFSP | Individualized Family Service Plan
IHP | Individual Habilitation Plan – for clients of the Division of MRDD
Inclusion | Participation in age-appropriate settings with nondisabled peers
IPC | Individual Plan of Care – for clients of the Division of MRDD for the Medical Waiver Program
IPP | Individualized Personal Plan
IQ | Intelligence Quotient (as tested)
ISL | Individualized Supported Living
ITP | Individualized Transition Program/Plan
IVEP | Individualized Vocational Educational Plan
IWRP | Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program
LEA | Local Education Agency (school district)
Least Restrictive | To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled. Special classes, separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from the general educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the child’s disability is such that education in general classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be satisfactorily achieved.
LD | Learning Disability
MA | Mental Age – a calculation made using IQ and CA
MOPAS | Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services
MO-SPAN | Missouri Statewide Parent Advisory Network
MO TASH | Missouri Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps
MPACT | Missouri Parents Act – Missouri parent information and training center authorized by IDEA
MR | Mental Retardation
MRDD | Division of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
P&A | Protection & Advocacy (Missouri Protection and Advocacy)
Para | Paraprofessional; Paraeducator; Classroom Aide
Paraprofessional | An individual hired to assist within a classroom or as a one-on-one assistant under thesupervision of a certificated teacher. May be referred to as a paraeducator or classroom aide.
PBS | Positive Behavioral Support
PDD | Pervasive Developmentally Delayed; Pervasive Developmental Disorder is the umbrella category under which autism falls in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV).
PDD-NOS | Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified is a diagnosis given to individuals who are in the PDD spectrum who don’t meet the criteria for autism, Asperger’s Disorder, Rett’s Disorder, or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
Perseveration | Repetitive movement, thought or speech
Positive Reinforcement | A procedure by which a stimulus, event or object is presented contingent upon a response, usually immediately following the response, resulting in the likelihood that the response will be strengthened or maintained.
Receptive Language | The ability to understand spoken and written communication as well as gestures.
Rett’s Disorder This syndrome is listed under Pervasive Developmental Disorder in the DSM-IV because at
times it is mistaken for autism. It occurs only in girls and is characterized by regression in motor, language and cognitive skills.
Sensorimotor Integration | Process by which the nervous system receives, organizes, filters and integrates sensory and motor information in order to make an appropriate response.
SB40 Senate Bill 40 | county tax levy for services to persons with developmental disabilities. Not
present in all Missouri counties.
SB40 Board | Board that administers county tax levy for services to persons with developmental disabilities.
SSI | Supplemental Security Income Benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act.
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