Let me write a brief (and fictional!) description of something similar to what you may see regarding your child’s education, at any time of their life (This idea was inspired by Dr. David Bateman, of Shippensburg University):
“Dear Parent, we want to update you on your child’s progress thus far this year. We have completed the FBA, and have put the PBIS in place within the classroom. We have also implemented the use of the new AAC app on the SLP’s iPad along with the continued use of ASL and the PECs. We will use other AT devices as needed. Your child has begun to show improvements with their IEP goals, which you may recall, we derived from their original IFSP while your child was in EI. With the recent testing we have done, we did not find any VI, and your child will remain in their current VB programming, which still remains the LRE, as per the PDE requirements. This is all in accordance with the ADA and the NCLB law. We have reviewed the ER from both the ST and OT, which you will find in the IEP. We do not feel the need for any other SaS at this time. We feel your child has made a successful transition from the IU at this time, and we will proceed with new the PBSP in place.
We have acknowledged your child’s dual IDD and ASD diagnosis. The psychologist has ruled out ODD at this time, but did observe quite a few OCD behaviors as well. We will continue following the newly developed SDI as laid out in the IEP. Thank for you contacting your SC so quickly and getting the MA for the BHRS providers! The BSC and TSS have been very helpful demonstrating ABA techniques as well. We are also recommending ESY for your child, which they are qualified for under FAPE as mandated by IDEA. More information about this can be found on PaTTAN’s website.
(are you feeling like this about now?)
Please sign and return the NOREP back to us ASAP. The nurse will contact you shortly about some OHIs which she would like to discuss directly with you about, as observed by all staff. Please note you are required to drop off your child’s ADHD medication in person as it is a controlled substance. Our LEA has mentioned they will get back to regarding your inquiries about RRs and RtII for a SLD. For your reference, we are required to give you resources on Procedural Safeguards, which can also be found on MH/IDD and ARC’s websites, as well as additional information from DRN and the BSE. “
Whew! So, out of the 50 acronyms, how many were you able to identify…without having to look them up? (granted this was a bit of an exaggeration with all of them!) If you got all of them, way to go! However, there are quite a few of us who are overwhelmed with all of the acronyms we see, and feel like we’re either back in statistics class, or we’re learning a completely different language! A large part of our conversations about our child’s education are FULL of these. For your general overall understanding, I have included a “cheat sheet” from Pennsylvania’s Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN, there’s an answer to one of the acronyms for you).
Keep in mind, professionals use these terms on such a daily basis, they may not even be aware they are even using them. They are usually preceded by the written out versions in documentations. This is similar to most professionals in any field now. It is just like some of us who use “text talk”, such as idk, btw, brb, lol, tbt, lmk, smh on a regular basis, so please don’t feel as if you’re expected to know it all!
