Tennessee Disability Acronym Dictionary
Acronym | What it stands for | What it means |
---|---|---|
AAIDD |
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities |
Association of professionals who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Formerly known as AAMR – American Association of Mental Retardation) |
ADA |
Americans with Disabilities Act |
Act by Congress to protect the Civil Rights of people with disabilities |
APS |
Adult Protective Services |
County agency responsible for investigating abuse, neglect and exploitation of adults who are elderly or have disabilities |
BA |
Behavior Analyst |
Professional who observes and assesses the relationship between behavior and the environment |
BEC |
Benefits Enrollment Center |
Past project of The Arc TN that assists individuals with applying for public benefit programs |
BHO |
Behavioral Health Organization |
TennCare contracted agency for mental health supports |
BPA&O |
Benefits Planning, Assistance & Outreach |
Social Security term |
BS |
Behavior Specialist |
Similar to a counselor but treats ordinary emotional and psychological issues |
CDC |
Comprehensive Development Classroom |
Special Education term - Segregated class for children and youth |
CIL |
Centers for Independent Living Memphis Center for Independent Living Jackson Center for Independent Living TARP Center for Independent Living –Paris Center for Independent Living of Middle TN Tri-State Disability Resource Center- Chattanooga disABILITY Resource Center - Knoxville |
6 private non-profit agencies in Tennessee providing services that will maximize the independence of individuals with disabilities and the accessibility of the communities they live in |
CMS |
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services |
Federal government funding agency for TennCare and ID HCBS Waivers |
COS |
Circle of Support |
Term used within waiver services to define the group of individuals who support the service recipient’s planning process |
DCE |
Disability Coalition on Education |
A group of parents and professionals who work to improve special education for students with disabilities |
DD |
Developmental Disability |
Any disability with an onset before age 22 that effects normal development; i.e., intellectual, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury |
DIDD |
Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities |
Department of state government that oversees funding and services for people with intellectual disability (ID) |
DDS |
Disability Determination Section |
A federally funded division of TN Dept. of Human Services that adjudicates Social Security disability claims |
DOE |
Department of Education |
Department of state government that oversees funding and programs for education, including special education services |
DOH |
Department of Health |
Department of state government that oversees funding and health related services |
DRS |
Division of Rehabilitation Services |
Division of state government that provides funding for vocational rehabilitation services related to jobs and working (also commonly referred to as “VR”) |
DRT |
Disability Rights Tennessee |
An agency that protects individuals with disabilities rights, funded by the U.S. Administration on Developmental Disabilities |
DSA |
Down Syndrome Association |
Disability agency advocating for individuals with Down Syndrome and their families |
DSP |
Direct Support Professionals |
Support staff for people with disabilities and who are elderly |
ECF |
Employment and Community First |
CHOICES program for people with IDD |
EI |
Early Intervention |
Education program for very young children who have disabilities |
EP Team |
Education Planning Team |
Education planning team |
FAPE |
Free and Appropriate Public Education |
Term used in federal education law, IDEA, guaranteeing students with disabilities a free public school education that meets their needs |
FERPA |
Family Education Rights to Privacy Act |
Act that protects privacy of records of students in special education |
FMAP |
Federal Medical Assistance Percentages
|
The Federal Medical Assistance Percentages are for Medicaid and are used in determining the amount of Federal matching funds for State expenditures for assistance payments for certain social services, and State medical and medical insurance expenditures. |
HCBS |
Home and Community Based Services |
The name of the Medicaid Waiver that funds community services for people with intellectual disabilities |
HIPAA |
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act |
Act that protects privacy of health records of individuals |
HRC |
Human Rights Commission |
An independent state agency charged with preventing and eradicating discrimination in employment, public accommodations, and housing |
ICAP |
Inventory for Client and Agency Planning |
Tool used by DIDD for support planning and implementation process for people with intellectual disability (mental retardation) diagnosis |
ICF/MR
|
Intermediate care facility for persons with mental retardation (while intellectual disability has replaced the term “mental retardation” in most situations, it cannot be substituted in this term) |
Mini institution or large group home that provides long term care and supports to people with intellectual disabilities who may also be medically fragile |
ID |
Intellectual Disability |
Cognitive disability with IQ 70 or below identified prior to age 18 |
IDEA |
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act |
Act passed by congress entitling kids with disabilities to a freed and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment with appropriate accommodations |
IEP |
Individualized Education Plan |
Term used for goals set for children in special education |
ISC |
Independent Support Coordinator |
Person who advocates for needed services and supports for person with intellectual disability who has Medicaid Waiver services. |
ISP |
Independent Support Plan |
Medicaid Waiver term- The Plan written for each person receiving HCBS services defining annual needs and goals |
LRE |
Least Restrictive Environment |
In education, it means to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities should be educated with children who are typically developing |
MCOs |
Managed Care Organizations |
Health insurance companies that contract with healthcare providers, medical facilities and government agencies to provide health and other services |
OT |
Occupational Therapy |
Therapy based on engagement in meaningful activities of daily life, especially to enable or encourage participation in such activities in spite of impairments or limitations in physical or mental functions |
PA |
Personal Assistant |
Support staff |
PABSS |
Protection & Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security |
Social Security term |
PASS |
Plan for Achieving Self-support |
It is an SSI provision to help individuals with disabilities return to work and become independent |
PASS |
Personal Assistance Services and Supports |
Grant funded by DIDD that assists people with disabilities to hire and supervise their own personal assistants |
PATH |
Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope |
A colorful method of person-centered planning |
PCP |
Person-centered Planning |
Person-centered planning is a process, directed by the family or the individual with long term care needs, to identify the strengths, capacities, preferences, needs and desired outcomes of the individual |
PEP |
Parents Encouraging Parents |
A parent advocacy group for parents of children with disabilities |
PIE |
Partners in Education |
Williamson County group of parents that works with special education division |
PPL |
Public Partnerships, LLC |
A company that provides fiscal intermediary services to waiver funded individuals choosing to self-direct their services |
PSA |
Public Service Announcement |
Free advertising through public radio or public television |
PSR |
Physical Status Review |
Tool that addresses health needs of people with developmental disabilities |
PT |
Physical Therapy |
The use of exercises and physical activities to help condition muscles and restore strength and movement |
PTP |
People Talking to People |
A program currently operated by The Arc of Tennessee that uses interview teams comprised of individuals with disabilities and family of individuals with disabilities to conduct customer satisfaction surveys related to services through DIDD |
RFP |
Request for Proposal |
Call for interested organizations to apply for particular grants |
SD Waiver |
Self-determination Waiver |
Capped ($30,000) HCBS Waiver through DIDD that includes a self-directed component |
SDM |
Supported Decision Making |
Alternative to conservatorship that helps individuals with disabilities make choices |
SGA |
Substantial gainful activity |
Social Security term used for earnings |
Sib Shop |
Siblings of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities workshop |
Training and social opportunities for brothers and sisters of person with intellectual or developmental disability |
SILC |
Statewide Independent Living Council |
Federally mandated organization committed to people with disabilities living independently as possible |
SIS |
Supports Intensity Scale |
Assessment tool that evaluates practical support requirements of a person with an intellectual disability through a positive and thorough interview process |
SLP |
Speech Language Pathology |
The study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders that relate to speech, language, swallowing, fluency, voice, and communication |
SPAN |
Statewide Parents Advocacy Network |
Parent organization serving children with greatest needs such as disability, poverty, etc. |
SPED |
Special Education |
Federally and state funded program designed to provide access to a free and appropriate education to children with disabilities up to age 21 in public school systems |
SSA |
Social Security Administration |
The federal government agency that holds money out of your check and provides benefits when you become disabled or retire |
SSDI |
Social Security Disability Income |
Benefits from SSA to someone with a disability who meets eligibility requirements and has worked long enough to qualify |
SSI |
Supplemental Security Income |
Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes) designed to help aged, blind and disabled people who have little or no income |
STEP |
Support & Training for Exceptional Parents |
An agency that provides special education and IDEA training targeted at parents and families |
TEA |
Tennessee Education Association |
Advocacy/membership organization for teachers |
TEIS |
Tennessee Early Intervention System |
Program for children ages birth to three through the TN Department of Education |
TNCO |
Tennessee Network of Community Organizations |
Membership of DIDD provider agencies in Tennessee (Formerly known as CMRA) |
TRC |
Tennessee Rehabilitation Center |
A state run training facility through the Division of Rehabilitation Services located in Smyrna, TN |
UCP |
United Cerebral Palsy |
A disability specific advocacy group |
UT-CDE |
University of Tennessee, Connecting Disability and Employment |
Branch of UT that works to see that people with disabilities receive training and get jobs |
VR |
Vocational Rehabilitation |
State Division that helps people with disabilities get trained for and find employment (aka Division of Rehabilitation Services) |