Start with your learners school administration

Reach out for help from someone who has been there before and won’t judge you regardless of the questions you ask

Oh how I wish it was that easy! While you can’t just make it go away, there is hope for progress in all situations

There are a lot of variables that go into answering this question. While it may seem simple on the surface, the age and learners unique needs must be taken into account

There are several ways to have your learner’s needs assessed, such as the school system or a private practice

• AAC | Alternative Augmentative Communication 
• ABA | Applied Behavioral Analysis
• ABC | Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence
• ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act
• ADD/ADHD | Attention Deficit/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• ADR | Alternative Dispute Resolution
• APD | Auditory Processing Disorder
• APE | Adaptive Physical Education
• ASD | Autism Spectrum Disorder
• ASL | American Sign Language
• AT | Assisted Technology
• AYP | Adequate Yearly Progress
• BD | Behavioral Disorder 
• BI | Brain Injury
• BIP | Behavioral Intervention Plan 
• CBA | Curriculum Based Assessment
• CCSS | Common Core Based Standards
• CP | Cerebral Palsy
• DD | Developmental Delay
• DHI | Deaf/Hearing Impaired
• DS | Down Syndrome
• ECE | Early Childhood Education
• ED | Emotional Disturbance
• EI | Early Intervention 
• ELL | English Language Learner
• ER | Evaluation Report
• ESD | Extended School Day
• ESL | English as a Second Language
• ESY | Extended School Year
• FAPE | Free Appropriate Public Education
• FAS | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome 
• FBA | Functional Behavioral Assessment
• FERPA | Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
• GE | General Education
• GT | Gifted and Talented 
• HI | Hearing Impaired 
• IA | Instructional Assistant
• ID | Intellectual Disability 
• IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• IEE | Individualized Educational Evaluation
• IEP | Individualized Education Program
• IFSP | Individualized Family Service Plan
• ISP | Individualized Service Plan
• IST | Instructional Support Team
• ITP | Individualized Transition Plan
• LEA | Local Education Agency(e.g. School District)
• LD | Learning Disability
• LEA | Local Education Agency
• LRE | Least Restrictive Environment
• LSS | Life Skills Support(in classroom)
• LSSP | Licensed Specialist in School Psychology
• MA | Mental Age
• MD | Multiple Disabilities 
• MDE | Multidisciplinary Evaluation
• MDT | Multidisciplinary Team
• OAH | Office of Administrative Hearings
• OCD | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• ODD | Oppositional Defiant Disorder
• OHI | Other Health Impairment
• OSEP | U.S. Office of Special Education Programs
• OSERS | U.S. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Programs
• OT | Occupational Therapy
• PALS | Peer Assisted Learning System
• PBS | Positive Behavioral Supports
• PCL | Parent Concern Letter
• PDD | Pervasive Development Disorders
• PLA | Parent Letter of Attachment
• PLOP | Present Levels of Performance
• PP | Para-professional
• PT | Physical Therapy
• PWN | Prior Written Notice
• RR | Review Re-evaluation
• RS | Related Services
• RTI | Response to Intervention
• SDI | Specially Designed Instruction
• SEA | State Education Agency
• SED | Severe Emotional Disturbance
• SID | Sensory Integration Disorder
• SPD | Sensory Processing Disorder
• Service Code | Services a student is eligible under
• SLD | Specific Learning Disability
• SLI | Speech and Language Impairment
• SLP | Speech and Language Pathologist
• SPED | Special Ed/Special Education
• TBI | Traumatic Brain Injury
• TS | Tourette Syndrome
• TSS | Therapeutic Support Staff
• VI | Visual Impairment
• VocEd | Vocational Education
• VPD | Visual Processing Disorder
• VT | Vision Therapist