Acronyms

A list of Acronyms is presented to assist individuals and their families in understanding the abbreviations frequently used in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field.

The source for the guide is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare, Office of Developmental Programs. Please visit the site for additional information.

Acronyms A - E

  • AAA: Area Agency on Aging
  • AAIDD: American Association for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities
  • ABA: Applied Behavior Analysis
  • ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
  • ADL: Activities of Daily Living
  • ADS: Adult Day Services
  • ADT: Adult Development Training
  • AE: Administrative Entity
  • AS: Asperger Syndrome
    ASD:     Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • AT: Assistive Technology
  • ATF: Adult Training Facility
  • BACB: Behavior Analyst Certification Board
  • BCABA: Bachelors level prepared behavior analyst; certified by BACB
  • BCBA: Masters level prepared behavior analyst; certified by BACB
  • BCBA-D: Doctoral level prepared behavior analyst; certified by BACB
  • BHA: Bureau of Hearings and Appeals
  • BHRS: Behavioral Health Rehabilitative Services
  • BIP: Behavior Intervention Plan
  • BSE: Bureau of Special Education
  • BSU: Base Service Unit
  • CAAC: County Administrators Advisory Committee
  • CAO: County Assistance Office
  • CASSP: Child & Adolescent Service System Program
  • CDS: College of Direct Support
  • CLA: Community Living Arrangement
  • CLM: Competent Learner Model
  • CMS: Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
  • DD: Developmental Disability or Dual Diagnosis
  • DPW: Department of Public Welfare
  • DRN: Disability Rights Network
  • ED: Emotional Disturbance
  • EDL: Everyday Lives
  • EI: Early Intervention
  • EITA: Early Intervention Technical Assistance
  • EPSDT: Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment
  • ER: Evaluation Report
  • ESY: Extended School Year

Acronyms F - J

  • FAPE: Free Appropriate Public Education
  • FBA: Functional Behavioral Assessment
  • FBVR: Facility Based Vocational Rehabilitation
  • FC: Facilitated Communication
  • FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
  • FFP: Federal Financial Participation
  • FLP: Family Living Provider
  • FSS: Family Support Services
  • HCBS: Home and Community Based Services
  • HCQU: Health Care Quality Unit
  • HCSIS: Home and Community Services Information System
  • HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
  • HRP: Health Risk Profile
  • ICF/MR: Intermediate Care Facility/Mental Retardation
  • ICM: Intensive Case Management
  • ID: Intellectual Disability
  • IDEA: Individuals With Disabilities Education Act
  • IEP: Individualized Education Program
  • IESF: Individual Emergency Support Form
  • IM: Incident Management
  • IM4Q: Independent Monitoring for Quality
  • ISO: Intermediary Service Organization
  • ISP : Individual Support Plan
  • IU: Intermediate Unit (Local Education Agency)

Acronyms K-0

  • LEA: Local Education Agency
  • LICC: Local Interagency Coordinating Council
  • LMS: Learning Management System
  • LOC : Level of Care
  • LRE: Least Restrictive Environment
  • MA: Medical Assistance
  • MCI: Master Client Index
  • MDT: Multidisciplinary Team
  • MH/MR: Mental Health/Mental Retardation
  • MPI: Master Provider Index
  • NOREP: Notice of Recommended Educational Placement
  • OA: Operating Agreement
  • OCDEL: Office of Child Development and Early Learning
  • OCS: Office of Developmental Programs Consulting System
  • OCYF: Office of Children, Youth and Families
  • ODP: Office of Developmental Programs
  • ODR: Office for Dispute Resolution
  • OLTL: Office of Long Term Living (formerly Office of Social Programs)
  • OMAP: Office of Medical Assistance Programs
  • OMHSAS: Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
  • OSEP: Office of Special Education Programs
  • OVR: Office of Vocational Rehabilitation

Acronyms P-T

  • P/FDS: Person/Family Directed Support Waiver  
  • PA Plus: Supplemental questions for Pennsylvania that accompany the SIS
  • PAC: Planning and Advisory Committee (to the Office of Developmental Programs)
  • PASA: Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment
  • PaTTAN: Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network
  • PCBH: Personal Care Boarding Home
  • PCP: Person Centered Planning
  • PDD: Pervasive Developmental Disorder
  • PDD-NOS: Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified
  • PDE: Pennsylvania Department of Education
  • PLF: Private Licensed Facility (Interim Care)
  • PPRT: Positive Practices Resource Team
  • PROMISeTM: Provider Reimbursement and Operation Management Information System
  • PUNS: Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services
  • QI or QM: Quality Initiative or Quality Management
  • QMRP: Qualified Mental Retardation Professional
  • SBBH: School Based Behavioral Health
  • SC: Supports Coordinator
  • SDI: Specially Designed Instruction
  • SEA: State Educational Agency
  • SEAP: Special Education Advisory Panel
  • SEES Plan: Social/Emotional/Environmental Support Plan
  • SEP: Supported Employment Program
  • SIS: Supports Intensity Scale
  • SSA: Social Security Administration
  • SSD: Services and Supports Directory
  • SSDI: Social Security Disability Income
  • SSI: Supplemental Security Income
  • TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
  • TEACCH: Treatment and Education of Autistic and
    Related Communication-Handicapped Children
  • TSM: Targeted Service Management
  • TSS: Therapeutic Staff Support

Acronyms U-Z

  • VB: Verbal Behavior
  • VF/EA FMS: Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent Fiscal Management Services