| Acronym | Meaning |
| AA | Alternate Assessment |
| AAC | Augmentive and Alternative Communication |
| AAGSE | Alternate Assessment Grade Span Expectations |
| ABA | Applied Behavioral Analysis |
| ABC | Antecedent/Behavior/Consequence |
| ACB | American Council for the Blind |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act |
| ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder |
| ADHD | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
| ADL | Activities for Daily Living |
| AFT | American Federation of Teachers |
| APE | Adaptive Physical Education |
| APH | American Printing House for the Blind |
| APR | Annual Performance Report |
| ARC | Associations for Retarded Citizens (ARCs) |
| ASD | Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| ASHA | American Speech Language and Hearing Association |
| ASPIIRE | Associations of Service Providers Implementing IDEA |
| AT | Assistive Technology |
| AUCD | Association of University Centers on Disabilities |
| BD | Behavior Disorder |
| CAITS | Child and Adolescent Intensive Treatment Services |
| CAPD | Central Auditory Processing Disorder |
| CASSP | Child and Adolescent Services Program (sponsored by the LCC) |
| CDC | Child Development Center (at Hasbro) |
| CDC | Center for Disease Control and Prevention |
| CEC | Council for Exceptional Children |
| CEDARR | Comprehensive Evaluation Diagnosis Assessment Referral and Reevaluation |
| CEEC | Caucus for Educators of Exceptional Children |
| CHADD | Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder |
| CNDC | Childrens Neurodevelopment Center |
| CRC | Community Resource Center |
| CSHCN | Children with special healthcare needs |
| CSPD | Comprehensive System of Personnel Development |
| CVI | Cortical Vision Impairment |
| CWIC | Community Work Incentives Coordinator (formerly BPAO Benefits Specialist) |
| DBH | Division of Behavioral Health |
| DD | Developmental Delay |
| DDD | Division of Developmental Disabilities |
| DDS | Disability Determination Services |
| DHS | Department of Human Services |
| DLT | Department of Labor and Training |
| DOE | Department of Education |
| DOL | Department of Labor |
| DPN | Disability Program Navigator- works at netWORKri |
| DRA | Developmental Reading Assessment |
| DSI | Dual Sensory Impairment (Blind/Deaf) |
| EARN | Employer Assistance Referral Network |
| ECC | Expanded Core Curriculum (for students who are blind or visually impaired) |
| ED | Emotional Disturbance |
| EI | Early Intervention (birth to 3) |
| ELL | English Language Learners |
| EN | Employment Network |
| EPE | Extended Period of Eligibility |
| EPSDT | Early Periodic Screening Diagnostics and Testing |
| ERIC | Educational Resource Information Center Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education |
| ESL | English as a Second Language |
| ESY | Extended School Year |
| EXR | Expedited Reinstatement |
| FAPE | Free Appropriate Public Education |
| FBA | Functional Behavioral Assessment |
| FBR | Federal Benefit Rate |
| FEAT | Families for Effective Autism Treatment |
| FICA | Federal Insurance Contributions Act |
| GCD | Global Communication Disorder |
| GED | General Educational Development |
| GLE | Grade Level Expectations |
| GSE | Grade Span Expectations |
| HBTS | Home Based Theraputic Services |
| HIPPY | Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters |
| ICC | Interagency Coordinating Council (oversees Early Intervention) |
| IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act |
| IEP | Individualized Education Plan |
| IFSP | Individualized Family Service Plan (early intervention equivelant of an IEP) |
| IHE | Institutes of Higher Education |
| ILIAD | IDEA Local Implementation by Local Administrators |
| IPE | Individual Plan for Employment |
| IRS | Internal Revenue Service |
| IRWE | Impairment-Related Work Expenses |
| ISP | Individual Service Plan |
| ITP | Individual Transition Plan |
| JAN | Job Accommodation Network |
| LAC | Local (special education) Advisory Committee |
| LCC | Local Coordinating Council |
| LD | Learning Disabled |
| LEA | Local Educational Agency |
| LRE | Least Restricitive Environment |
| MHRH | Mental Health Retardation & Hospitals- over sees DDD and DBH |
| NASP | National Association of School Psychologists |
| NASSP | National Association of Secondary School Principals |
| NCBDDD | National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities |
| NCLB | No Child Left Behind |
| NEA | National Education Association |
| NECAP | New England Common Assessments Program |
| NECTAC | National Early Childhood Technicial Assistance Center |
| NetWORKri | RI's One Stop Career Center, DLT |
| NICHCY | National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities |
| NICU | Neonatal Intensive Care Unit |
| NLTS | National Longitudinal Transitional Summary |
| NRCP | National Resourse Center for Paraprofessionals in Education and Related Services |
| OCD | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder |
| OCR | Office of Civil Rights (US Dept. of Education) |
| ODL | Office of Diverse Learners |
| OHI | Other Health Impaired |
| OJT | On the Job Training- (work incentive for employers) |
| ORS | Office of Rehabilitation Services |
| OSEP | US Department of Education Office of Special Education Populations |
| OSESN | Ocean State Employer Services Network - Work force Development Professional Group |
| OSP | Office of Special Populations |
| OT | Occupational Therapy/Therapist |
| P&A | Protection and Advocacy |
| Part B | Services for School Aged Children |
| Part C | Services for Children Birth - 2 years old |
| PASS | Personal Assistance Services and Supports (DHS program for children with special healthcare needs) |
| PASS | Plan to Achieve Self-Support |
| PAT | Parents As Teachers |
| PBGR | Proficiency Based Graduation Requirements |
| PBIS | Positive Behavior Interventions |
| PEC | Picture Exchange Communication System |
| PEP | Positive Educational Partnership |
| PESS | Property Essential for Self-Support |
| PICU | Pediatric Intensive Care Unit |
| PSN | Parent Support Network |
| PT | Physical Therapy/Therapist |
| PTI | Parent Training Information Project |
| PWN | Prior Written Notice |
| RIBLN | RI Business Leadership Network |
| RIDE | RI Department of Education |
| RIDLC | RI Disability Law Center |
| RIPIN | RI Parent Information Network |
| RITAP | RI Technical Assistance Program |
| RRC | Regional Resource Center |
| SALT | School Accountability for Learning and Teaching |
| SE | Supported Employment |
| SEA | State Education Agency |
| SEAC | Special Education Advisory Committee |
| Section 504 | Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability portion of the Federal Rehab Act of 1973 |
| Section 619 | Preschool Special Education for Children 3-5 years old |
| SGA | Substantial Gainful Activity |
| SIG | State Improvement Grant |
| SIP | State Improvement Plan |
| SIT | School Improvement Team |
| SLP | Speech/Language Pathologist |
| SORI | Special Olympics of RI |
| SPDG | State Personnel Development Grant |
| SPED | Special Education |
| SpeNSE | Study of Personnel Needs in Special Education |
| SPP | State Performance Plan |
| SSA | Social Security Administration |
| SSDI | Social Security Disability Insurance |
| SSI | Supplemental Security Income |
| SSS | School Support System |
| TA | Teacher Assistant |
| TBI | Traumatic Brain Injury |
| TDD | Telecommunications Device for the Deaf |
| TTW | Ticket to Work |
| TTY | Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (Teletype) |
| TWP | Trial Work Period |
| UCEDD | University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities |
| UWA | Unsuccessful Work Attempt |
| VR | Vocational Rehabilitation |
| WIA | Workforce Investment Act |
| WIPA | Work Incentives Planning and Assistance |
| WOTC | Work Opportunities Tax Credit |