Acronyms used in this Forum
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Anonymous
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This is a list of the acryonyms that we use on the Special Needs Forum:
AAC = augmentative and alternative communication ABA = Applied Behavioral Analysis (Lovaas Method of treating autism) ABA=Applied Behavioral Therapy ACM = Anti-convulsant medication ADA = Americans with Disabilities Act ADHD = Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADL = Activities of daily life ADOS = Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale AED = Anti-epileptic drug AFO’s = Ankle Foot Orthoses (foot braces) AIT = Auditory Integration Training AS= Asperger's Syndrome ASD = Autism Spectrum Disorder ASL = American Sign Language AT = Assistive Technology BIP = Behavior Improvement Plan Botox = Botulinum Toxin, a therapy for cerebral palsy Button = Site of feeding tube CAN/DAN = Cure Autism Now/Defeat Autism Now CD = Cognitive Disability CIP = Change in Placement CNMC = Childrens National Medical Center CP = Cerebral Palsy DAFOs = Dynamic Ankle Foot Orthoses (foot braces) DBS = Deep Brain Stimulation DD = Developmental Disabilities DIR = Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-based (also called "Floortime", this is the late Dr. Stanley Greenspan's approach to treating autism) DS = Down Syndrome DSM-IV/DSM-V = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Version 4/5 DTT = Discrete Trial Training ED = Eating Disorder ED = Emotionally Disturbed EEG = Electroencephelogram EI = Early Intervention ESY = Extended School Year FAPE = Free and Appropriate Public Education FBA = Functional Behavior Analysis FERPA = Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act FTT = Failure to Thrive G-tube = Gastric Feeding Tube GE = General Education GF/CF = Gluten Free/Casein Free GI = Gastrointestinal HBOT = Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy HFA = High Functioning Autism HIPAA = Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act IDEA = Individuals with Disabilities Act IEP - Individualized Education Plan IFSP - Individualized Family Service Plan JH = Johns Hopkins KD = Ketogenic Diet KKI = Kennedy Krieger Institute LD = Learning Disability LRE = Least Restrictive Environment Mickey or Mic-key = a type of feeding tube Mito = Mitochondrial MMR = Measles, Mumps and Rubella MR = Mentally Retarded MRI = Magnetic resonance imaging NG-Tube = Nasogastric feeding tube NICU = Neonatal Intensive Care Unit NIH = National Institutes of Health NIMH = National Institutes for Mental Health NT - Neurotypical NV = Non-verbal OCD = Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ODD = Oppositional Defiant Disorder OHI = Other Health Impaired OSSE = Office of the State Superintendent of Education OT = Occupational Therapist /therapy PANDAS = Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders Associated with Strep PDD-NOS= Pervasive Developmental Disorder -Not Otherwise Specified PECS = Picture Exchange Communication System PEG-tube = Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrotomy Tube, a feeding tube PEP = Preschool Education Program, Montgomery County PT = Physical Therapist /therapy RBS-R = Repetitive Behavior Scale, Revised RDI = Relationship Development Intervention Rett’s = Rett Syndrome SC = Self-care SI = Sensory Integration SIB = Self-Injurious Behavior SLP = Speech Language Pathologist Snip or SNP Test = Single Nucleotide Polymorphism – a form of chromosomal testing SPD= Sensory Processing Disorder SPED = Special Education SSRI - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor ST = Speech therapist/therapy Stimming = “self-stimulation” -- repetitive body movement to stimulate the senses TBI = Traumatic Brain Injury TEACCH = Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication- Handicapped Children TOM = Theory of Mind TS = Tourette's Syndrome VB = Verbal Behavior |
Anonymous
| MERLD = Mixed expressive/receptive learning disorder |
Anonymous
| dx=diagnosis |
Anonymous
| What is SN? |
Anonymous
Look at the title of the forum "Special Needs Kids" |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
| What does PAC stand for? |
Anonymous
| IP for now adult (22+) children w/ SN who qualify for services. |
cjjaffe
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| The term "mental retardation" has been replaced in federal statutes with the term "intellectual disability" per Congress's passage of Rosa's law in 2010 due to its negative connotation. Even though much of the general public is not aware of this change, those who have a child with special needs certainly are. Therefore, I am requesting that the code "MR" for "Mentally Retarded" be changed to "ID" for "Intellectually Disabled". |
Anonymous
Political Action Committee. Usually lobbies Congress, promises votes, funds, etc. |
Anonymous
Interesting issue. I always find that it's tough to balance the individual and Congressionally granted rights and responsibilities against those needs of the people within the forums still only familiar with the colloquialisms of the day. One thing that I would note is that Intellectually Disabled is a nebulous phrase, one that could apply to a host of disabilities. The ease with which MR is understood by the casual observers and commenters of the forum (never mind the parents who need help) is also an argument in its favor. What we get, then, is the question: How normative do we want our terms to be? And is it worse for those who will likely not read the forum to have the help they need, or to be referred to in a less accurate, but clearly more dignified manner. Even the removal of terms like "idiot," "imbecile," and others once referred to a specific range of IQ, one that might even be more helpful to this forum because of the ease with which those who have loved ones with those disorders can separate and associate together, sharing the information and discussing the common experiences that bind them together because of the ranges themselves. So at the end of the day, which is it? Accuracy and ease of identification or normative standards for language and its referents. |
Anonymous
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The reason that people continue to use terms such as "mental retardation" is that they have not been educated regarding the importance of using the appropriate terminology. When the term "mental retardation" replaced the term "feeble minded", I would think that it probably took some time to educate people regarding the fact that "feeble minded" should be replaced with "mental retardation", just as it will take people some time for people to understand that "intellectual disability" should replace "mental retardation". Once upon a time, very derogatory terms were used to describe other marginalized groups such as ethnic minorities and homosexuals. It was only through education that people came to learn that these terms were not only offensive but continued to perpetuate negative stereotypes.
In addition, "intellectual disability"y refers to limitations with respect to memory and cognition, just as "mental retardation" did. They both refer to the same group of individuals - it is just that the latter is offensive while the former is not. Furthermore, just because somebody is familiar with a colloquialism does not mean that it is polite to use it. There are plenty of colloquialisms with which I am familiar but which I would never use because they are offensive. If young children are being taught the appropriate language to use to refer to individuals who have cognitive limitations (which they are teaching in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools), then I think that it is not unreasonable to expect that most adults would be familiar with the term, even if they have not yet started to use it. In addition, the term intellectual disability is more than just a Congressionally granted right and responsibility. Indeed major medical journals and websites and print materials for medical facilities and institutes of higher learning have changed terminology to refer to "intellectual disabilities" rather than "mental retardation". he bottom line is that it's not alright to use offensive terminology because some people may not be familiar with the less offensive wording. Rather, it provides people with permission to continue to perpetuate negative stereotypes. |
Anonymous
I definitely agree with the normative aspect of what you're saying. I believe that in the above quote (I'm the one responding to the OP here) I said the term was offensive. My question was, as a message board, do we want ease of use in our terminology? IOW, what are the ends we seek here? I think that intellectual disability is a misnomer too quickly adopted by both Congress and the journals you speak of out of fear of looking insensitive. Most special needs on here are "intellectual disabilities," at least as one commonly understands the word. Which brings me to my point: I prefer to think of the use of MR as a balancing test, much like the balancing tests they use in case law. It pits the utile, traditional, easily understood terminology and its effects on the board and its readers against the normative element and sensitivity of said readers. I was merely just pointing this out. I think DCUM has done well to resist the normative aspect of its acronyms and instead has provided the reader and user with a clearer, more traditional term. |
Anonymous
| What does "2E" mean? |