Abbreviations and Acronyms

Communication is difficult when abbreviations and acronyms are used too frequently with people unfamiliar with the field of developmental disabilities. Here are many of those that relate to North Carolina services and organizations.

General Abbreviations and Acronyms
Government Agencies and Entities
Advocacy and General Organizations
University Affiliated Organizations

General Abbreviations and Acronyms

ABA               applied behavior analysis ABI                 acquired brain injury ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ADVP adult developmental vocational program ADHD attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ALJ Administrative Law Judge AT assistive technology BIP  behavior intervention plan CAP-MR/DD Community Alternatives Program for Persons with Mental Retardation and other Developmental Disabilities CC   closed captioned CDC   child development center CP cerebral palsy CSLA  community supported living arrangements DD developmental disabilities DSA designated state agency ECI early childhood intervention EPSDT early & periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment ESY extended school year FAPE   free and appropriate public education FAS fetal alcohol syndrome FMLA Family Medical Leave Act FPL federal poverty level HCBS home and community based services HMO health maintenance organization HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 I/DD individual with intellectual or other developmental disabilities IAEP interim alternative education placement ICF-MR/DD intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded/developmental disabilities IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IEP individualized education program IFC individual family care IFP individual family plan IFSP individualized family services plan IHP individualized habilitation plan IPRS integrated payment and reporting system (DMH/DD/SAS) IRWE impairment related work expense IST  individual service team IWRP  individualized written rehabilitation program LD learning disability LOE level of eligibility LOC level of care LRE least restrictive environment MA medical assistance MAPC medical assistance personal care program MD muscular dystrophy MFIAA Money Follows the Individual Accountability Act MH mental health MR mental retardation MS multiple sclerosis NCAC  North Carolina Administrative Code NCGS North Carolina General Statute (state law) NCLB No Child Left Behind NC-SNAP NC support needs assessment profile OT occupational therapy PDD pervasive developmental disorder P & A protection and advocacy PACT Parents & Children Together (or Parent & Child Training) PART B Preschool Program under PL 99-457 for 3 And 4 Year Olds PART H Infant, Toddler Program under PL 99-457 for Children Birth to 3 Years Old PCP person centered plan P.L. public law (federal law) PNS projects of national significance PPO preferred provider organization PT physical therapy QA/QI quality assurance/quality improvement QDDP qualified developmental disabilities professional QMRP qualified mental retardation professional R&D Resource and Development Committee RFA  request for applications RFP request for proposal SA special assistance SSBG Social Services Block Grant SE supported employment SIS support intensity scale SL supported living SSI supplemental security income SSDI social security disability insurance TBI traumatic brain injury TDD telecommunication device for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing TTY teletext device typewriter TS   tourette syndrome or tuberous sclerosis UCR unit cost rate reimbursement UM utilization management UR utilization review VR vocational rehabilitation VRS video relay service

Government Agencies and Entities

ACYF Administration for Children, Youth, and Families ADD Administration on Developmental Disabilities CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CMS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (formerly known as HCFA) CDSA Child’s Developmental Services Agency CFAC Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (within NC DHHS) CHIP Children's Health Insurance Program (federal) DCD  Division of Child Development (within NC DHHS) DHHS Department of Health and Human Services DMA Division of Medical Assistance (within NC DHHS) DMH/DD/SAS  Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services (within NC DHHS) DOC Department of Correction DPH  Division of Public Health (within NC DHHS) DPI Department of Public Instruction DSB Division of Services for the Blind (within NC DHHS) DSDHH Division of Services for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing (within NC DHHS) DRNC Disability Rights North Carolina DSS Division of Social Services (state agency) (within NC DHHS), Department of Social Services (county agency) DVRS Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (within NC DHHS) EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission GACCY Governor's Advocacy Council on Children and Youth HFCA Health Care Finance Administration (now called Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services-CMS) HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ICC Interagency Coordinating Council (for IDEA, Birth-5) LEA Local Education Agency LICC Local Interagency Coordinating Council LME Local Management Entity LOC   Legislative Oversight Committee (MH/DD/SAS) NCATP North Carolina Assistive Technology Project NCCDD North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities NCCHI North Carolina Council for the Hearing Impaired OAH Office of Administrative Hearings ODEP Office of Disability Employment Policy OSEP Office of Special Education Programs (U.S.) OSERS Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services OSHA Occupational Safety/Health Administration SCHIP State Children's Health Insurance Program (federal) SILC State Independent Living Council SSA Social Security Administration WCH Women’s and Children’s Health

Advocacy and General Organizations

AAIDD American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (formally known as AAMR) ACCEPT Advocacy Center for Children's Education and Parent Training ACLU American Civil Liberties Union AMI Alliance for the Mentally Ill APSE Association for Persons in Supported Employment Arc of NC formerly The ARC or Association for Retarded Citizens of NC ASANC Association of Self-Advocates of NC ASNC Autism Society of North Carolina BIANC Brain Injury Association of NC CCD Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities CEC Council for Exceptional Children CIL Center for Independent Living EANC Epilepsy Association of North Carolina ECAC Exceptional Children's Assistance Center FAA Families as Allies (Affiliate of Federation of Families) FSN Family Support Network LDA Learning Disabilities Association of North Carolina MDA Muscular Dystrophy Association NACDD National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities NAEYC National Association for the Education of Young Children NAPAS National Association of Protection and Advocacy Services NASDDDS  National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services NASW  National Association of Social Workers NCAD North Carolina Association of the Deaf NCARF North Carolina Association of Rehabilitation Facilities NCCYH National Information Center for Children and Youth with Handicaps NCDAN North Carolina Disability Action Network NCDBA North Carolina Deaf-Blind Associates NDRN National Disability Rights Network NICHCY National Information Center for Children & Youth with Disabilities NIDRR National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research NIH National Institutes of Health NOD National Organization on Disability PACER Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights Center RWJ Robert Wood Johnson Foundation SBA Spina Bifida Association UCP United Cerebral Palsy/ Easter Seals of North Carolina

University-Affiliated Organizations

AUCD Association of University Centers on Disabilities AHEC Area Health Education Center CDL Clinical Center for the Study of Development and Learning (UNC-CH) DDTI Developmental Disabilities Training Institute (UNC-CH) FPGCDC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center (UNC-CH) FSN Family Support Network (UNC-CH) TEACCH Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children UCEDD University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education