Glossary of Terms: Resources for Caregivers of Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Resources for Caregivers of People with Developmental Disabilities

To view terms listed beginning with a certain letter, click on character below.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W

A
AAMR	American Association on Mental Retardation
AC	Augmentative Communication
AD/HD	Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity Disorder
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
Adaptive Equipment	Equipment offering special support which is adapted to a person's special needs (built-up handled spoon, prone board, etc.)
ADC	Adult Day Care
ADD	Attention Deficit Disorder
ADL	Activities of Daily Living
Advocacy	The act of supporting or promoting a cause.
AIDS	Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Ambulatory	Having the ability to walk
Anticonvulsant	A drug used to control seizures.
Applied Behavior Analysis	A method of teaching designed to change behavior in a precisely measurable and accountable manner. Also called Behavior Modification.
ARC	Association for Retarded Children/Citizens
AT	Assistive Technology: any device or service used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capacities for a person with developmental disabilities.
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B
BOCES	Board of Cooperative Educational Services
BOE	Board of Education
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C
C3IP	Consumerism, Individualization, Independence, Integration, & Productivity
CARF	Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
CCF	Council on Children and Families
CDC	Center for Disease Control
CM	Case Management: Everything from planning to obtaining services for someone with developmental disabilities.
CMCM	Comprehensive Medicaid Case Management
CP	Cerebral Palsy
CPA	Child Protective Agency
CPSE	Committee on Preschool Special Education
CQC	Commission on Quality Care for the Mentally Disabled
CR	Community Residence
CSE	Committee on Special Education
CSEP	Community Services Expansion Plan
CSW	Certified Social Worker
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D
DD	Developmental Disabilities
DDPC	Developmental Disabilities Planning Council
DDSO	Developmental Disabilities Service Office
Developmental Milestone	A developmental goal such as sitting or using two-word phrases that functions as a measurement of developmental progress over time.
DOH	Department of Health
DSS	Department of Social Services
DT	Day Treatment
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E
EI	Early Intervention
EM	Environmental Modification: Internal or External modifications to the home and/or environment that enhance the independence, functional ability and safety of the person with developmental disabilities.
Estate Planning	Formal, written arrangements for handling the possessions and assets of people after they have died.
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F
FAS	Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FC	Family Care or Facilitated Communication
FOIL	Freedom of Information Law
FSS	Family Support Services
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G

Guardian	A person appointed or designated legally to manage the property or financial affairs and to exercise the rights of another person.
H
Habilitation	Teaching new skills to a person with developmental disabilities.
HCBS	Home & Community Based Services Waiver.
HHS	Health and Human Services
HIV	Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HMO	Health Maintenance Organization
HUD	Housing and Urban Development
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I
ICF	Intermediate Care Facility
IDEA	Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: The federal law that guarantees children with disabilities the right to a free, appropriate public education.
IEP	Individualized Education Plan: A plan for a child's special education services that the parent and either the CPSE or CSE will develop if the child qualifies for services.
IFSP	Individualized Family Service Plan: A written plan for the child's and family's services in the Early Intervention Program that the family develops with a team of qualified personnel and the Early Intervention Official.
ILC	Independent Living Center
IPP	Individual Program Plan
IRA	Individualized Residential Alternative
ISE	Individualized Service Environment
ISP	Individual Service Plan
ISS	Individual Support Services
ITT	Interdisciplinary Treatment team
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J
JTPA	Job Training Partnership Act
K
Ketogenic Diet	A diet high in fat and low in protein and carbohydrates sometimes used to help control seizures.
L
LD	Learning Disability
LTD	Long Term Disability
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M
MA	Medicaid: A joint state and federal program that offers medical assistance to people who are entitled to receive Supplemental Security Income.
MCO	Managed Care Organization
MMIS	Medicaid Management Information System
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N
NF	Nursing Facility
NP	Nurse Practitioner
NY CARES	New York Creating Alternatives in Residential Environments and Services: 1998 comprehensive 5-year plan to provide residential placement for individuals with developmental disabilities currently on waiting lists.
NYSACRA	NY State Association of Community and Residential Agencies
NYSRA	NY State Rehabilitation Associations
NYSSAC	NY State Society for Autistic Citizens
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O

OMH	Office of Mental Health
OMRDD	Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
OSERS	Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services
OSES	Office of Special Education Services
OT	Occupational Therapy
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P
PASS	Plan for Achieving Self Support
PAT	Personal Adjustment Training
PC	Personal Care
PCP	Personal Centered Planning
PS	Personal Service
PSA	Personal Services for Adults
PT	Physical Therapy
PWS	Prader-Willi Syndrome
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Q
QA	Quality Assurance
QtP	Quality through Participation
R
Reinforcement	Providing a pleasant consequence or removing an unpleasant consequence after a behavior in order to maintain or increase that behavior.
Respite	Skilled care and supervision of a person with disabilities that can be provided in the family's home or in the home of a care provider.
RFS	Request for Services
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S
SCIP	Strategies for Crisis Intervention & Prevention
SED	State Education Department
Sensory Integration	The ability of the central nervous system to process and learn from sensations such as touch, sound, light, smell, and movement.
Service Coordinator	The person responsible for coordinating services and information from the members of a multi-disciplinary team. Also called a case manager.
SETRC	Special Education Training and Resource Center
SP	Speech Pathology
SSA	Social Security Administration
SSDI	Social Security Disability Insurance: These benefits are paid to disabled workers as well as to people who become disabled before the age of 22, who may collect SSDI under a parent's account if the parent is retired, disabled, or deceased.
SSI	Supplemental Security Income: SSI is available for people with low incomes who are elderly or have a disability, and is based on need.
STD	Short Term Disability or Sexually Transmitted Disease
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T
TASH	The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps
TBI	Traumatic Brain Injury
TDD	Telephone Device for the Deaf
TRAID	Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities
TTY	Teletypewriter
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U
UCPA	United Cerebral Palsy Association
V
VESID	Vocational & Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities
Vocational Training	Training for a job. Learning skills to perform in the work place.
W
WAT	Work Adjustment Training
WIC	Women, Infants, and Children
WTI	Working Toward Independence
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updated 12/18/2007