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)

Tennessee Disability Acronym Dictionary

TN Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder