• ABA: Applied Behavior Analysis

• ABC: Applied Behavior Consultants

• ABC: Autism Behavior Checklist - a diagnostic tool

• ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act

• ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder

• ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• ADI: Autism Diagnostic Interview - a diagnostic tool developed in London by the Medical Research Council

• ADOS: Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale

• AGRE: Autism Genetic Resource Exchange - a program run by the CAN Foundation to collect and review DNA samples

• AIA Network: Autism, Intolerance and Allergy Network

• AIT: Auditory Integration Training

• ASLA: Autism Society of America, Los Angeles

• ANC: Autism National Committee

• ANDI: Autism Network for Dietary Intervention

• ARI: Autism Research Institute

• ARRI: Autism Research Review International

• AS: Asperger’s Syndrome

• ASA: Autism Society of America

• ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorders

• ASL: American Sign Language

• AUTCOM: Autism National Committee

• CAN: Cure Autism Now

• CARS: Childhood Autism Rating Scale

• CBCL: Achenbach Childhood Behavior Checklist - a diagnostic tool

• CCF: Community Care Facility

• CF or c/f: casien free

• CHAT: Checklist for Autism in Toddlers - a diagnostic tool

• DAN: Defeat Autism Now

• DAN Doctor: a physican who uses the DAN protocol to diagnose autism and attended a DAN conference

• DAN Protocol: an assessment protocol which examines the underlying disorders causing autism

• DAS: Developmental Apraxia of Speech

• DD: Developmental Disabilities

• DMAE: dimethyl aminoethanol

• DMG: dimethylglycine

• DVD: Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia

• EAHCA: The Education for All Handicapped Children Act

• EEG: Electroencephalogram

• ELAP: Early Learning Accomplishment Profile - an evaluation tool

• FC or f/c: Facilitated Communication

• FCT: Facilitated Communication Training

• FEAT: Families for Early Autism Treatment

• GARS: Gilliam Autism Rating Scale

• GF or g/f: Gluten Free

• HFA: High-functioning Autistic

• ICF: Intermediate Care Facility

• IDEA: Individuals with Disablitites Act

• IEP: Individualized Education Plan

• IFSP: Individualized Family Service Plan

• IHP: Individualized Habilitation Program

• IPP: Individual Program Plan

• LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker

• LD: Learning Disabled

• LFA: Low-functioning Autistic

• LKS: Landau-Keffner Syndrome

• LRE: Least Restrictive Environment

• LSH: Language, Speech and Hearing Specialist

• MR: Mentally Retarded

• MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• MSDD: Multi-System Developmental Disorder

• NAS: National Autistic Society

• NICHCY: National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities

• NIH: National Institute of Health

• NLP: Natural Language Paradigm, also called Pivotal Response Training

• NIMH: National Institute for Mental Health

• NT: Neurologically Typical or Neurotypical

• NOS: Not Otherwise Specified

• OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• ODD: Oppositional Defiant Disorder

• OT: Occupational Therapist

• PANDAS: Pediatric Autoimmune Disorders Associated with Strep

• PDD: Pervasive Developmental Disorder

• PDD:NOS: Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

• PECS: Picture Exchange Communication System

• PEP: Psycho-educational Profile

• PEP-R: Psycho-educational Profile Revised

• PRT: Pivotal Response Training

• PT: Physical Therapy

• SI: Sensory Integration

• SIB: Self Injurious Behavior

• SIT: Sensory Integration Therapy

• SSI-DC: Supplemental Security Income-Disabled Child

• Stim: Stimming - short for self-stimulation, like rocking or tapping

• TEACCH: Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children

• TOM: Theory of Mind

• TS: Tourette’s Syndrome