Individuals and their family members hear and read many acronyms that are used by professionals in the disability community. "Alphabet Soup" provides an glossary of disability-related acronyms and their meanings. (Revised August 2022)

Choose a Letter

A

AAA – Area Agency on Aging

AAC – Augmentative Alternative Communication

AAE – Adaptive & Assistive Equipment

AAI – Acuity Assessment Instrument

AAIDD – American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

AAPD – American Association of People with Disabilities

AARP – American Association for Retired Persons

ABA – Applied Behavior Analysis

ABD – Aged, Blind and Disabled

ABI – Acquired Brain Injury

ABLE Act – Achieving a Better Life Experience (see also STABLE)

ACA – Affordable Care Act

ACB – American Council of the Blind

ACL – Administration on Community Living

ACBO – American Council of the Blind of Ohio

ACIL – Access Center for Independent Living

ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act

ADAPT – Americans Disabled for Attendant Programs Today

AFDC – Aid to Families and Dependent Children

ADD – Attention Deficit Disorder

ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADL – Activities of Daily Living

AFB – American Foundation for the Blind

AG – Attorney General

AHEAD – Association on Higher Education and Disability

AIDD – Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

AMA – American Medical Association

APE – Adaptive Physical Education

APHA – American Public Health Association

APS – Adult Protective Services

APSE – Association for People Supporting Employment First

APSI – Advocacy and Protective Services Inc.

ARC – The Arc of Ohio

ASA – Autism Society of America

ASD– Autism Spectrum Disorder

ASL – American Sign Language

ASHA – American Speech-Language Hearing Association

AT – Assistive Technology

AT Ohio – Assistive Technology of Ohio

ATA&EM Center – Assistive Technology & Accessible Educational Materials Center of OCALI

B

BCI – Bureau of Criminal Investigation

BIAOH – Brain Injury Association of Ohio

BLTCF – Bureau of Long-Term Care Facilities

BMC – Bureau of Managed Care

BSVI – Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (OOD)

BVR – Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation (OOD)

BWC – Bureau of Workers Compensation

C

CARF – Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities

CBT – Cognitive Behavior Therapy

CBDD – County Board of Developmental Disabilities

CCD – Consortium on Citizens with Disabilities

CDC – Centers for Disease Control

CDE – Center for Disability Empowerment

CDF – Children’s Defense Fund

CDJFS – County Department of Job and Family Services

CEC – Council for Exceptional Children

CEU – Continuing Education Unit

CFR – Code of Federal Regulations

CHADD – Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

CHIP – Children’s Health Insurance Program (Ohio Healthy Start)

CIL – Center for Independent Living

CMH – Children with Medical Handicaps (formerly BCMH)

CMS – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

COB – Coordination of Benefits

COG – Council of Governments

COHHIO – Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio

COLA – Cost of Living Adjustment

COOL – Council of Ohio Leaders (OSDA)

COP – Community of Practice

CP – Cerebral Palsy

CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

CRP – Community Rehabilitation Program

CSHCN – Children with Special Health Care Needs

CTLC – Charting the LifeCourse

CWIC – Community Work Incentive Coordinator

D

DAS – Ohio Department of Administrative Services

DAV – Disabled American Veterans

DB101 – Disability Benefits 101

DC – Developmental Center (DODD)

DD – Developmental Disabilities

DD Act – Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000

DDBP – Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (Cincinnati Children's)

DDC – Developmental Disabilities Council

DDP – Developmental Disabilities Profile

DEI – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

DME – Durable Medical Equipment

DNR – Do Not Resuscitate

DODD – Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities

DOE – Department of Education

DOJ – Department of Justice

DOL – Department of Labor

DREDF – Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund

DRO – Disability Rights Ohio

DSC – Deaf Services Center

DSP – Direct Support Professional

Dx – Diagnosis

DYS – Ohio Department of Youth Services

E

EARN – Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability and Inclusion

EBP – Evidence-Based Practices

EC – Early Childhood

EC-CAS – Early Childhood Comprehensive Assessment System

ECE – Early Childhood Education

EEOC – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

EI – Early Intervention

ENT – Ear, Nose and Throat

EOB – Explanation of Benefits

EPSDT – Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program (called Healthchek in Ohio)

ESC – Education Service Center

ESL – English as a Second Language

ESSA – Every Student Succeeds Act

ESY – Extended School Year

EVV – Electronic Visit Verification

F

FAC – Family Advisory Council (DODD)

FAPE – Free Appropriate Public Education

FBA – Functional Behavioral Assessment

FCC – Family Centered Care

FCE – Family and Community Engagement

FCFC – Family & Children First Council

FCSS – Family Centered Services and Supports (see also OFCF)

FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

FFS – Fee for Services

FFY – Federal Fiscal Year

FHA – Fair Housing Act

FMLA – Family Medical Leave Act

FOIA – Freedom of Information Act

FPL – Federal Poverty Level

FPS – Family Planning Services

FRNO – Family Resource Network of Ohio

FTA – Federal Transit Authority

FY – Fiscal Year

G

GAL – Guardian Ad Litem

GPRA – Government Performance and Results Act

GRF – General Revenue Fund

H

HSA – Health Savings Account

HCBS – Home and Community Based Services

HHA – Home Health Agency

HHS – Health and Human Services

HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

HLAA – Hearing Loss Association of America

HME – Home Medical Equipment

HMG – Help Me Grow

HMO – Health Maintenance Organization

HOH – Hard of Hearing

HOME Choice – Helping Ohioans Move, Expanding Choice

HPC – Homemaker Personal Care

HUD – Housing and Urban Development

Hx – History

I

ICF – Intermediate Care Facility

ICF-IDD – Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

ICP – Individual Career Plan

ID – Intellectual Disability

I/DD – Intellectual/Developmental Disability

IDD/MI – Intellectual or Developmental Disability/Mental Health (co-occurring)

IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IECMH – Infant Early Childhood Mental Health

IEE – Independent Educational Evaluation

IEP – Individualized Education Program

IFSP – Individualized Family Service Plan

IHO – Impartial Hearing Officer

IHP – Individual Habilitation Plan

IL – Independent Living

ILC – Independent Living Center

ILCNCO – Independent Living Center of North Central Ohio

ILOC – Intermediate Level of Care

IO – Individual Options Waiver

IP – Independent Provider

IPE – Individualized Plan for Employment

IPOC – Interdisciplinary Plan of Care

IPP – Individual Program Plan

IQ – Intelligence Quotient

I&R – Information and Referral

IRWE – Impairment Related Work Expense

ISP – Individual Service Plan (see also Ohio ISP)

IWGA – Interagency Work Group on Autism

J

JAN – Job Accommodation Network

JCARR – Joint Committee on Administrative Rule Review

K

No acronyms beginning with K

L

LGBTQ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning

LD – Learning Disability (sometimes called SLD)

LEA – Local Education Agency

LEAP – Linking Employment Abilities and Potential (on of Ohio’s CILs)

LEP – Limited English Proficient (or Proficiency)

LISW – Licensed Independent Social Worker

LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse

LRE – Least Restrictive Environment

LSC – Legislative Services Commission

LTC – Long-Term Care

LTCF – Long-Term Care Facility

LTCOP – Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

LTSS – Long-Term Services and Supports (Medicaid)

M

MBI – Medicaid Buy-In

MBIWD – Medicaid Buy-in for Workers with Disabilities

MCHB – Maternal and Child Health Bureau

MCO – Managed Care Organization

MCP – Managed Care Plan

MCS – Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

MFE – Multi-Factored Evaluation

MFP – Money Follows the Person

MH – Mental Health

MI – Mental Illness

MI/DD – Mental Illness/Developmental Disability (co-occurring)

MOBILE – Mid-Ohio Board for an Independent Living Environment

MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MSA – Medical Savings Account (Medicare)

MSY – Multi-System Youth

MUI – Major Unusual Incident

N

NAD – National Association of the Deaf

NACDD – National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities

NADD – National Association for the Dually Diagnosed

NAHA – National Affordable Housing Act

NAMI – National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

NASDSE – National Association of State Directors of Special Education

NCBDDD – National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities

NCD – National Council on Disability

NCLD – National Consortium on Leadership and Disability for Youth

NCHPAD – National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability

NDRN – National Disability Rights Network

NEA – National Education Association

NF – Nursing Facility

NFB – National Federation of the Blind

NICU – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NIDRR – National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research

NIH – National Institutes of Health

NOD – National Organization on Disability

NOFA – Notice of Funds Available

NP – Nurse Practitioner

NPO – Nothing by Mouth

NSLP – National School Lunch Program

NTI – Nursing Task Inventory

O

O4A – Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging

OAC – Ohio Administrative Code

OACB – Ohio Association of County Boards Serving People with Developmental Disabilities

OBLTSS – Ohio Benefits Long-Term Services and Supports

OBRA – Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

OCALI – Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence

OCBF – Ohio Capacity Building Fund

OCECD – Ohio Coalition for Education of Children with Disabilities

OCR – Office of Civil Rights

OCRC – Ohio Civil Rights Commission

ODA – Ohio Department of Aging

ODDC – Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council

ODE – Ohio Department of Education

ODEP – Office of Disability Employment Policy

ODH – Ohio Department of Health

ODHP – Ohio Disability and Health Partnership

ODJFS – Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

ODM – Ohio Department of Medicaid

ODMHAS – Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

ODOT – Ohio Department of Transportation

ODYS – Ohio Department of Youth Services

OEC – Office of Exceptional Children

OFCF – Ohio Family and Children First

OHFA – Ohio Housing Finance Agency

OHI – Other Health Impairment

OhioISP – Ohio’s Individual Service Plan

OhioSIBS – Ohio Special Initiatives by Brothers & Sisters

OOD – Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

OOTF – Ohio Olmstead Task Force

OPRA – Ohio Provider Resource Association

ORC – Ohio Revised Code

OSDA – Ohio Self Determination Association

OSEP – Office of Special Education Programs

OSERS – Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services

OSILC – Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council

OT – Occupational Therapy

OTS – Outcome Tracking System

OWF – Ohio Works First

P

PA – Prior Authorization

P&A – Protection and Advocacy

PAR – Professional Advocates Resources

PAS – Personal Assistant Services

PASARR – Pre-Admission Screening and Resident Review (Medicaid)

PASS – Plan for Achieving Self-Support

PASSPORT – Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options & Resources Today Waiver

PBIS – Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports

PCA – Personal Care Attendant

PCN – Primary Care Nurse

PCP – Person Centered Plan

PCP – Primary Care Provider

PDD – Pervasive Developmental Disorder

PDN – Private Duty Nursing

PII – Personal Identifiable Information

PL – Public Law

PLAN – Planned Lifetime Assistance Network

POA – Power of Attorney

PPO – Preferred Provider Organization

Pre-Cert – Pre-certification

PRN – Pro Re Nata (Latin for “as the situation demands” or “as needed”)

Project STIR – Steps Toward Independence and Responsibility

PT – Physical Therapy

PTI – Parent Training and Information Center

PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PWD – People with Disabilities

Q

QA – Quality Assurance

QIDP – Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional

R

RESNA – Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America

RFP – Request for Proposal

RN – Registered Nurse

ROM – Range of Motion

RSA – Rehabilitation Services Administration

Rx – Prescription

S

SABE – Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered

SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test

SBIS – Stanford Binet Intelligence Testing

SCHIP – State Children's Health Insurance Program (also CHIP)

SEA – State Education Agency

SEA – Society for Equal Access

Section 504 – Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

SELF – Self Empowered Life Funding Waiver

SELN – State Employment Leadership Network

SFL – Substantial Functional Limitation

SFY – State Fiscal Year

SGA – Substantial Gainful Activity

SIB – Sibling

SIL – Services for Independent Living

SILC – Statewide Independent Living Council

SLD – Specific Learning Disability

SLP – Speech Language Pathology

SNF – Skilled Nursing Facility

SOCIL – Southeastern Ohio Center for Independent Living

SOS – Secretary of State

SSA – Service and Support Administrator (case managers for county boards of developmental disabilities)

SSA – Social Security Administration

SSD – Social Security Disability

SSDI – Social Security Disability Insurance

SSI – Supplemental Security Income

SST – State Support Team

STABLE – Ohio’s ABLE Act program

STIR – Steps Toward Independence and Responsibility (also referred to as Project STIR)

STNA – State Tested Nurse Aide

T

TANF – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury

TCILC – Tri-County Independent Living Center, Inc.

TDD – Telecommunication Devise for the Deaf

TIC – Trauma Informed Care

TPP – Transition Planning Process

TPW – Therapeutic Program Worker

TTY – Teletypewriter for the Deaf

TWWIIA – Ticket to Work & Work Incentives Improvement Act

Tx – Treatment

U

UCEDD – University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

UCP – United Cerebral Palsy

UHCAN – Universal Health Care Action Network

USBLN – United States Business Leadership Network

V

VA – Veterans Affairs

VR – Vocational Rehabilitation

W

WIC – Women, Infants and Children program

WID – World Institute on Disability

WIOA – Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

WIPA – Work Incentive Planning & Assistance Program

WRILC – Western Reserve Independent Living Center

X

No acronyms beginning with X

Y

YLF – Youth Leadership Forum

Z

No acronyms beginning with Z