American Association on Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities - an interdisciplinary association of professional and concerned individuals in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

American Association of People with Disabilities            

Applied Behavior Analysis - a professional field that uses principles of leaning to increase performance of socially desireable behaviors.  It always relies upon the collection of objective data to measure performance and the effectiveness of an intervention.

American Coalition for the Blind

Administration for Children and Families

American Civil Liberties Union

Advocates for Children and Youth, Inc. - a statewide nonprofit organization that provides education and advocacy around the needs of Maryland's children and their families; identifies effective programs and services that meet these needs, advocates for funds to implement these programs and services; and provides legal representation to children who are having difficulty in school.

Administration for Children, Youth and Families - the federal agency that provides information and assistance to parents; administers national programs for children and youth (including Head Start); works with states and local communities to develop family support services; and seeks joint ventures with the private sector to enhance the lives of children and their families

American with Disabilities Act - a federal law providing comprehensive civil rights protections for individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, sex, national origin and religion.  It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications (see ADA & IT Information Center)

Administration on Developmental Disabilities - the federal agency responsible for overseeing activities under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1990.  Located in the Administration on Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the ADD serves as focal point in the Department for supporting and encouraging the provision of quality services to persons with developmental disabilities

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised - a tool used for diagnosing autism

Alternative Living Unit - a home where three or fewer people with disabilities reside

Association for Persons in Supported Employment - a national membership organization that promotes the concept of paid integrated employment and full community participation for all individuals.

known as The Arc - a statewide non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to the welfare of children and adults with cognitive disabilities, family members, educators, professionals, and the public.  Its activities include program development, technical assistance; information, referral and counseling; prevention activities and systems advocacy. (see also the Arc of Maryland)

Admission, Review, Dismissal - the part of the IEP process to determine placement in the least restrictive environment and discuss any additional services, supports, and/or modifications needed for IEP implementation

Autism Society of America - National nonprofit organization that promotes lifelong access and opportunities for persons within the autism spectrum.

Assistive Technology - Special itmes or equipment used to increase, maintain or improve one's functioning abilities.  The term covers items such as computers, pencil holders, pecialized switches and calculators.

Association of University Centers on Disabilities -

Baltimore County Public Schools

Behavior Intervention Plan

Client Assistance Program - provides information and intervention services to clients and applicants of DORS  regarding benefits and services available under the Rehabilitation Act

Corrective Action Plan - The document setting out the means by which an education agency shall correct its deficiencies as determined by its monitoring agency.

Child Care Administration - the state's lead agency for child care located in the Maryland State Department of Education. The mission of the office is to ensure the protection of children in nonresidential out-of-home care.  CCA licenses and regulates all family day care homes and child care centers.

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities - a national coalition comprised of over 75 consumers, service providers, and professional organizations which advocates on behalf of persons with disabilities and their families

Children's Defense Fund - a national organization that educates about children's needs and encourages preventive investment in children.  It works for improved public policies at the federal, state and local level on behalf of children.  It also provide information and technical assistance.

Council for Exceptional Children - a national organization including professionals and parents who work to improve the quality of education for exceptional children

Children Having a Major Part in Our Neighborhood Schools:  Frederick County

Centers for Independent Living - in MD: SILC, Independence Now, The Freedom Center.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - the federal agency responsible for Social Security and Medicaid (located in the Department of Health and Human Services)

Central Nervous System - The structure that consists of the brain, the spinal cord and related systems that control all aspects of learning, thinking and movement.

Code of Maryland Administrative Regulations

Cerebral Palsy

Community Supported Living Arrangements - a federal program developed through the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) which assists individuals with developmental disabilities to live in homes of their choosing, regardless of the nature or severity of their disability, with people with whom they choose to live, and receive services from the providers of their choice. CSLA is also established in Maryland state law.

Community Transportation Association of America

Center for Technology and Education

Developmental Disability

Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act

Developmental Disabilities Administration - the principal state agency providing funding for services to persons with developmental disabilities

Developmental Disabilities Councils (now referred to as Councils on Developmental Disabilities) - the federally funded state organization authorized in the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 to provide advocacy, policy analysis and planning, and ensure comprehensive services for persons with developmental disabilities. Also has the responsibility of establishing a Five-Year State Plan which must outline the major unmet needs of persons with developmental disabilities and identify services to be provided.

Department of Business and Economic Development - the state agency that attracts new business, encourages expansion and retention of existing facilities, and provides financial assistance and training.  For persons seeking employment - job match services, training and unemployment insurance are provided.Reorganized as the Department of Business and Economic Development in 1995.

Department of Housing and Community Development

Department of Health and Human Services - the Cabinet level of the Federal Executive Branch concerned with people and involved with the nation's human concerns (location of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities)

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - the state agency concerned with the physical, mental and social health of Marylanders. Contains the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Mental Hygiene Administration, Local and Family Health, Medical Care Policy and Medicare Compliance agencies.

Department of Human Resources - the state agency serving Maryland's citizens in economic and social matters.  Includes, Social Services Administration, Income Maintenance Administration and Community Services Administration.

Department of Rehabilitation Services - the state agency implementing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides rehabilitation services to eligible persons with disabilities to prepare for and find work (located in the Maryland State Department of Education) including supported employment.

Designated State Agency - the Maryland Department of Disabilities is the DSA for the Maryland Developmental Disability Council.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - The fourth edition of the reference manual published by the American Psychiatric Association, for which the text was revised in 2000.

Education Advocacy Coalition

Education Department General Admissions Regulations - (Federal education regulations)

Extended Elementary Education Program - a state funded pre-kindergarten education program for four year old children from low-income neighborhoods. The goal of EEEP is to provide initial learning experiences which will help children develop basic skills necessary for successful school performance.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Early Intervention - Individualized services for infants and toddlers who are at risk for or are showing signs of developmental delay.

Early & Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment

Extended School Year - Special education and related services provided beyond the normal school year, in accordance the the child's IEP and at no cost to the parents.

Employment and Training Administration - Provides specialized employment and training services for individuals with disabilities.

Free and Appropriate Public Education

Functional Behavioral Assessment  

Family Support Services

Federal Transit Administration

Federal Poverty Level

Fiscal Year

Governor's Office for Individuals with Disabilities - former name for the state agency that identifies and evaluates programs and services for Maryland's citizens with disabilities (now called the Maryland Department of Disabilities)

Home and Community Based Services

Housing and Urban Development - the federal agency responsible for programs concerned with housing and community development, fair housing opportunities and improving programs to help families become homeowners, rental subsidies for lower income families and programs that aid neighborhood revitalization and preservation of urban centers

Interim Alternative Education Placement

Interagency Coordinating Council - advising body to cabinet secretaries from the departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Defense, and the Interior, and the commissioner of the SSA. It makes recommendations to the federal agencies working to improve opportunities to children with disabilities, including suggestions to eliminate barriers to interagency programs. The FICC serves as the mechanism to facilitate coordination of federal resources to ensure that young children (birth to age 5) with, or at risk for, disabilities and their families get the early intervention and preschool services and supports that they need.

Intermediate Care Facility

Individualized Education Program - a written statement for a child with a disability that is developed and implemented in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Individual Family Care

Individualized Family Service Plan - a written plan describing the infant's current level of development; the family's strengths and needs related to enhancement of the infant's development; goals for the infant and the other family members; and the specific early intervention services needed to meet the goals.

Individualized Habilitation Plan - a written plan developed by an interdisciplinary team explaining a person's goals and services in accordance with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000.

Independence Mastery Assessment Program - Maryland’s alternative assessment for students with severe disabilities covering four domains:  communication, decision making, behavior, academics.

Impairment Related Work Expense - (a Social Security Administration work incentive) services or equipment, needed for a person to work because of a disability, which are paid for by the worker, such as wheelchair transportation, vehicle modifications, adaptive equipment, attendant care, medications and job coaching

Individualized Service Plan - the document which becomes the basis for services coordination for the consumer.  It is developed by an interdisciplinary team with the input and approval of the consumer, and focuses upon the broad service areas needed by the consumer.  It is recorded and managed by the services coordinator.

Individual Support Services

Individualized Written Rehabilitation Program - the primary tool used by the vocational rehabilitation counselor and the prospective supported employee to identify the goal, content, cost, duration and sponsor(s) of substantial services.

Local Education Agency - a political subdivision of the state responsible for providing education to children with disabilities.

Learning Disability

Local School Systems

Least Restrictive Environment - assurance that, to the maximum extent possible, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are non-disabled (in accordance with IDEA) with supplementary aids and services.

Medical Assistance

Maryland Association of Community Services - a professional association whose membership is comprised of agencies that provide community-based services to individuals with developmental disabilities in Maryland.

Medical Assistance Personal Care Program

Maryland Committee for Children, Inc. - a nonprofit organization that works to expand early educational opportunities; increase the availability of child care; help parents find child care; train child care workers; assist employers with work/family policy development; and advocate for policies that benefit children and families. 

Maryland Center for Community Development

Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education, Inc. - a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure that all students with disabilities have maximum opportunities to be educated in their home schools, to interact with peers without disabilities, and to be provided with a meaningful individualized education and supports that lead to participation in home, school, work and everyday community life.

Maryland Center for Independent Living - a federal grant funded private non-profit agency that provides community education and outreach, advocacy and resource development, and service delivery.

Maryland Disability Law Center - the organization designated as the State Protection and Advocacy System for protecting and advocating for the rights of children and adults with disabilities.  MDLC provides legal representation to individuals who have legal problems related to their disabling condition.

Maryland Department of Disabilities

Maryland Department of Transportation

Maryland Rehabilitation and Employment Association, Inc. - a non-profit membership association dedicated to promoting quality employment opportunities for people who have disabilities.

Maryland Technology Assistance Program

Mental Hygiene Administration

Mental Health Law Project - (Now known as the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law) a national public interest group that works to assure appropriate and humane care for mentally disabled children and adults in institutions and to improve the scope and quality of services provided to mentally disabled people.  It undertakes test case litigation, public policy advocacy, and educational outreach. 

Medicaid Community-Based Attendant Service & Supports Act

Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program - the state agency that has the overall planning and supervision responsibilities for Part C (Early Intervention Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities) of the 1986 Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act (located in MSDE)

Maryland State Department of Education - State agency responsible for ensuring that all children with disabilities residing in the State are identified, assessed and provided with a free, appropriate public education consistent with state and federal laws.

An assessment given each May to Maryland's 3rd, 5th, and 8th graders to test their mastery of the basics and how well they can apply that knowledge in authentic problem-solving situations. The MSPAP measures the performance of Maryland schools by illustrating:1. How well students solve problems cooperatively and individually. 2. How well students apply what they have learned to real world problems. 3. How well students can relate and use knowledge from different subject areas.

Mass Transit Administration -

Monitoring and Technical Assistance Review System

National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities - the new organization that was formed as a result of the merger of NADDC (National Association of Developmental Disabilities) and CDDC (Consortium of Developmental Disabilities Councils). This is a national membership organization of state Developmental Disabilities Councils.

National Rehabilitation Information Center - library and information center on disability and rehabilitation (funded by NIDRR)

National Alliance for Autism Research

National Council on Independent Living

National Council on Disability

National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education

National Down Syndrome Society

National Disabled Student Union

National Information Center for Children & Youth with Disabilities - a national organization that provides information service to help parents, educators, caregivers, and advocates to improve the lives of children and youth with disabilities.

National Institute on Disability & Rehabilitation Research - a federal agency that provides support for a wide variety of research and related activities that contribute to the rehabilitation, vocational success and integration of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream of society:  sponsors applied, non-medical, community based research for both children and adults who have emotional disorders, chronic illnesses, mental retardation and/or a range of other disabilities (located in OSERS)

National Institutes of Health - the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. It is an Agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH headquarters are located in Bethesda, Maryland, and the surrounding area. NIH funds scientific studies at universities and research institutions across the Nation and also sponsors public events around the Nation.

National Organization on Disability

Office of Civil Rights (U.S.) - promotes and ensures that people have equal access to and opportunity to participate in and receive services through the prevention and elimination of unlawful discrimination.

Office for Children, Youth and Families (now known as the Governor's Office for Children)

Office of Disability Employment Policy - ODEP's mission is to provide leadership to increase employment opportunities for  adults and youth with disabilities. ODEP is a federal agency in the Department  of Labor.

Office of Special Education Programs (U.S.)

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services - the federal agency responsible for special education programs and services designed to meet the needs and develop the full potential of children with disabilities.  OSERS provides support for training of teachers and other professional persons and grants for research. 

Occupational Therapy

Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights Center

Personal Assistance Services

Positive Behavioral Supports

Personal Care Assistant

Partners in Policymaking

Public Law

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - (Formerly known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, signed into law in 1975)(U.S.)

Early Childhood Special Education Law (U.S.)

(Section of P.L. 99-457) Early Intervention Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities of the 1986 Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act. Used to be referred to as Part H.

Protection and Advocacy System - an independent system to protect and advocate for the rights of persons with developmental disabilities.  The P&A functions include the pursuit of legal, administrative, and other remedies, provision of information on and referral to programs and services, and investigations of incidents of abuse and neglect (in accordance with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000); (MDLC is the Maryland P&A)

Plan to Achieve Self- Support - (a Social Security Administration work incentive) a way in which a person with a disability or blindness uses or sets aside income or resources to reach a work goal.  For example, a person could set aside money for an education or a training program or to start a business.

Personal Assistant

Personal Care Attendant

Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Parents of Integrated Education:  Baltimore County

Parents for integrated School and Community Education Services: Montgomery County

Project of National Significance

Program Performance Report - annual report submitted to ADD

Public Relations

Physical Therapy

Parent Training & Information Center - Parents Place of Maryland serves as the PTI in this state.

Rolling Access Funds

Request for Proposals

Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers - centers that receive federal funding to conduct research and provide professional training in such diverse areas as sensory disorders, traumatic brain injury, and the rehabilitation needs of our aging disabled population (supported by NIDRR)

Rehabilitation Services Administration - the federal agency that provides funding to state rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities to enter competitive employment.

State Coordinating Council for the Residential Placement of Handicapped Children - the state agency that oversees the placement of children into nonpublic residential centers (located in GOCYF)

State Education Agency

Special Education Citizen's Advisory Committee - a local group comprised of parents, students, community participants, educators, and administrators who work to strengthen partnerships.

Special Education State Advisory Committee

Substantial Gainful Activity

Self-Injurious Behavior - Behaviors that are harmful to oneself, such as head-banging or scratching or biting oneself.

State Interagency Coordinating Council

Statewide Independent Living Council

Speech Language Pathologist

State Residential Centers - Public facilities for persons with mental retardation administered by the Developmental Disabilities Administration

Services Reform Initiative - an activity needs-based family preservation program for children ages 0 - 18 whose goal is to create a model service delivery system and implement that system throughout the State to return children from out of state placements and prevent their placement out of Maryland.

Social Security Administration - a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that administers both Social Security and SSI programs

Social Security Disability Insurance - an insurance program for former workers who have become disabled, and for disabled adult children of workers who are retired, disabled or deceased.

Supplemental Security Income - A Social Security Administration program that provides monthly payments to aged, blind and disabled people with limited income and resources (assets)

Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment - a federal grant awarded to Kennedy Krieger Institute from NIH that will help researchers and clinicians learn more about the causes of autism as well as ways to detect the disorder early and treat it. Other STAART centers are Boston University, Mount Sinai School of Medicine NY, University of California Los Angeles, University of Rochester, and University of Washington.

Technical Assistance

TASH: Equity, Opportunity and Inclusion for People with Disabilities - a national membership organization consisting of people with disabilities, families, professionals and community members.  TASH is dedicated to people perceived as having severe intellectual disabilities and seeks to build an inclusive society that values all people.

Ticket to Work and Workforce Investment Improvement Act - a federal program that allows states to expand Medicaid health care coverage so that people with disabilities who work can "buy-in" to health insurance.  It enables people with disabilities to go to work (or to work more hours) without risking the loss of necessary health care services available through the Medicaid program.

University Affiliated Program (Now known as UCEDD)

University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities - a program, operated by a public or nonprofit private entity, including parents of persons with developmental disabilities, professionals, paraprofessionals, students and volunteers, which is associated with, or is an integral part of, a college or university and which provides for interdisciplinary training, demonstration of exemplary services, technical assistance and dissemination of findings (in accordance with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 1990).  The Kennedy Krieger Institute is the Maryland UCEDD. 

United Cerebral Palsy

United States Department of Education

Workforce Investment Act - Ensures that employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that of other employees.  This also applies to members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal department or agency.

Working for Integrated Neighborhood Schools:  Harford and Howard Counties

Waiting List Initiative