The disability world is full of acronyms and it can be hard to keep them straight. Support for Families has developed this list of acronyms and their meanings to help decode documents, forms, and the written language of disability.
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Bar Association
Refers to California law related to behavioral assessment and mental health services.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
American Medical Association
Assistive Technology
Community Advisory Committee
California Children Services
California Department of Education
Child Health and Disability Prevention Program
Children’s Health Insurance Program
Community Behavioral Health Services
Child Care Inclusion Challenge Project
Children’s Medical Services
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
Child Protective Services
Continuous Quality Improvement
Children with Special Health Care Needs
Children’s System of Care
Comprehensive Child Crisis Services
Department of Children, Youth and Family Services (San Francisco)
Developmental Disability
Department of Developmental Services
Department of Human Services
Designated Instruction and Service
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Emotionally Disturbed
Early Intervention (usually refers to services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or risk factors.)
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (Medicaid benefits for children)
Extended School Year
Free, appropriate, public education (refers to special education law)
Federal Poverty Level or Federal Poverty Rate
Family Resource Center
Family Voices
Health Care Financing Administration (federal agency responsible for Medicaid, Medicare and CHIP)
Hard of Hearing
Hearing-Impaired
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
Help Me Grow
Health Maintenance Organization
Interagency Coordinating Committee
Intensive Care Management
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (federal law governing special education)
Individualized Education Program
Individualized Family Service Plan
In-Home Supportive Services
Learning Disability
Local Education Agency (school district)
Local Planning Area
Licensed Practical Nurse
Least Restrictive Environment (provision of IDEA)
Maternal and Child Health
Managed Care Organization
Managed Care Plan
Masters of Arts degree
Medical Doctor
Marriage and Family Therapist
Master’s degree in Science
Master’s degree in Social Work
Medical Therapy Unit
National Association for the Mentally Ill
No Child Left Behind
National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
Neo-gastric Tube
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
National Institute of Mental Health
Non-Public School
Office of Civil Rights (Federal)
Other Health Impaired
Office of Special Education Programs (Federal)
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (Federal)
Occupational Therapist
Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (State program that protect the rights of people with mental health needs and developmental disabilities.
Primary Care Provider (or Physician)
Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Public Health Nurse
Purchase of Services
Preferred Provider Organization
Physical Therapist
Parent Training and Information Centers (funded through IDEA)
Resource Specialist Program
Special Day Class
State Education Agency
Severe Emotional Disturbance
Special Education Local Planning Area
Support for Families of Children with Disabilities (San Francisco’s FRC and PTI)
San Francisco Unified School District
Speech and Language Impairment
Social Security Administration
Social Security Disability Insurance
Supplemental Security Income
Supplemental Security Income – Disabled Children’s Program (usually called Children’s SSI)
Student Study Team
Traumatic Brain Injury
Visually Impaired
Women, Infants and Children (supplemental food program)
Call the Warmline
(415) 920–5040
Stop by and see us