A
- AAB - Architectural Access Board
- AAIDD (formerly AAMR) - American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, http://www.aaidd.org
- ABAS - Adaptive Behavior Assessment System
- ABE - Adult Basic Education
- ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act
- ADAG - Accessibility Design Access Guidelines
- ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder
- ADDP - The Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers, http://www.addp.org
- ADHD - Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- ADL - Activities of Daily Living
- AER - Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, http://www.aerbvi.org
- AHEAD - Association for Higher Education and Disability, http://www.ahead.org
- ALAB - Alleged Abuser
- ALV - Alleged Victim
- ARC - Association of Retarded Citizens, http://www.thearc.org , http://www.arcmass.org
- ASC - Autism Support Center
- ASD - Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ASL - American Sign Language
B
- BSAS - Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, http://www.mass.gov/dph/bsas
- BTP - Bureau of Transportation Planning
C
- CAB - Citizen Advisory Board
- CAM - Community Access Monitor
- CMS - Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
- CMSP - Children's Medical Security Plan
- COFAR - Massachusetts Coalition of Families and Advocates for the Retarded, www.cofar.org
- CORI - Criminal Offender Record Information
- CP - Cerebral Palsy
- CPASS - Community Personal Assistance Services and Supports
- CRT- Complaint Resolution Team
- CSHCN - Children with Special Health Care Needs
D
- DCF - Department of Children and Family, Department of Children & Families
- DCS - Department of Career Services,
- DD - Developmental Disability
- DDS - Department of Developmental Services
- DDSIS - Department of Developmental Services Information System
- DHCFP - Division of Health Care Finance and Policy http://www.mass.gov/dhcfp
- DMH - Department of Mental Health, http://www.mass.gov/dmh
- DMR - Department of Mental Retardation (former name of DDS)
- DOE - Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, http://www.mass.gov/doe
- DOJ - Department of Justice
- DOL - Department of Labor, http://www.mass.gov/dlwd
- DPH - Department of Public Health, http://www.mass.gov/dph
- DPPC - Disabled Person's Protection Commission, http://www.mass.gov/dppc
- DSHN - Division of Special Health Needs
- DTA - Department of Transitional Assistance, http://www.mass.gov/dta
- DX - Diagnosis
- DYS - Department of Youth Services
E
- EEOC - Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (federal), http://www.eeoc.gov
- EEP - Extended Employment Program
- EI - Early Intervention Services
- EIP - Early Intervention Program (for children ages 0-3)
- EMSC - Emergency Medical Services for Children
http://www.mass.gov/dph/emsc - EOAF - Executive Office for Administration and Finance, http://www.mass.gov/eoaf
- EOEA - Executive Office of Elder Affairs, http://www.mass.gov/elders
- EOHHS - Executive Office of Health and Human Services,
- EPSDT - Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment
- ETS - Employment Training Specialist
F-G
- FSP - Family Support Plans
- FAMILY TIES - Families Together in Enhancing Support
- FC - Facilitated Communication
- FEDERATION - The Federation for Children with Special Needs, http://www.fcsn.org/
- FLSA - Fair Labor Standard Act
- FOC - Families Organizing for Change, http://www.mfofc/.org
- GAL - Guardian Ad Litem
H-I
- HADU - Healthy Aging and Disability Unit
- HCBW - Home and Community Based Waiver
- HCSIS - Home and Community Services Information System
- HHA - Home Health Aide
- HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
- HMO - Health Maintenance Organization
- HOH - Hard of Hearing
- HRO - Human Rights Officer
- HUD - Department of Housing and Urban Development, http://www.hud.gov/
- http://www.mass.gov/dhcd
- ICAP - Inventory for Client and Agency Planning
- ICC - Interstate Coordinating Council
- ICF - intermediate Care Facility
- ICR/MR - Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded
- ICI - Institute for Community Inclusion, http://www.communityinclusion.org/
- IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- IEP - Individualized Education Plan
- IL - Independent Living
- ILC - Independent Living Center
- IPCP - Injury Prevention and Control Program
- IRWE - Inpaired-Related Work Expense
- ISP - Individual Support Plan
- ITP - Individual Transition Plan
- IWRP - Individual Written Rehabilitation Plan
J-L
- JTPA - Job Training Partnership Act
- LEA - Local Education Authority
- LHA - Local Housing Authority
M
- M.G.L. - Massachusetts General Laws
- MAAPS - Massachusetts Association of 766 -Approved Private Schools, http://www.spedschools.com/
- MABE - Massachusetts Association for Bilingual Education
- MAC - Massachusetts Advocacy Center,
- M.A.S.S. - Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong, http://www.communitygateway.org/local/mass.htm
- MASSCAP - Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Process
- MassCare - Massachusetts Community AIDS Resource Enhancement Program
- MassCHIP - Massachusetts Community Health Information Profile, http://masschip.state.ma.us/
- MassHealth - Office of Medicaid, MassHealth
- MASSTART - Massachusetts Technology Assistance Resource Team
- MBTA - Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, http://www.mbta.com/
- MCB - Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, http://www.mass.gov/mcb/
- MCCD - Massachusetts Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities
- MCDDH - Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, http://www.mass.gov/mcdhh/
- MCH - Maternal and Child Health
- MDDC - Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, http://www.mass.gov/mddc/
- MHFA - Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, http://www.mhfa.com/
- MHW - Mental Health Worker
- MI - Mental Illness
- MOD - Massachusetts Office of Disability, http://www.mass.gov/mod/
- MRC - Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, http://www.mass.gov/mrc/
- MRW - Mental Retardation Worker
- MS - Multiple Sclerosis
- MSP - Massachusetts State Police, http://www.mass.gov/msp/
- MSPCC - Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, http://www.mspcc.org/
N-O
- NIDRR - National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research, http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/index.html?src=mr
- ORI - Office for Refugees and Immigrants
- OIM - Orientation and Mobility (services for individuals who are visually impaired)
- OCSS - Office of Child Care Services, www.mass.gov/eec
- ODF - Oversight Documentation Form
- OHD - Office of Health and Disability
See "Healthy Aging Health and Disability Unit" - OJT - On the Job Training
- OSEP - Office of Special Education Programs
- OSERS - Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (federal), http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html?src=mr
- OT - Occupational Therapy
P-Q
- PAC - Parent Advisory Committee
- PASARR - Pre-Admission Screening and Annual Resident Review
- PASS - Plans to Achieve Self-Sufficiency
- PCA - Personal Care Attendant
- PCP - Person Centered Planning
- PDD - Pervasive Developmental Disorder
- PDD, NOS - Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified
- POC- Plan of Care
- PS - Protective Service
- PSL - Protective Service Liaison
- PSW - Protective Service Worker
- PT - Physical Therapy
- PTA, PTO - Parent Teachers Association
- PTSK - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
R
- RAC - Regional Advisory Council
- RCC - Rape Crisis Center
- REB - Regional Employment Board
- REPT - Reporter
- RFP - Request for Proposal
- RFR - Request for Response
- RRTC - Rehabilitation Research and Training Center
- RSA - Rehabilitation Services Administration, http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/rsa/index.html
- RTA - Regional Transit Authority
S
- SAC - Statewide Advisory Council
- SAT - Scholastic Aptitude Test
- SBHC - School Based Health Center
- SDA - Service Delivery Area
- SEOG - Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
- SGA - Substantial Gainful Activity
- SHIP - Statewide Head Injury Program (MRC), http://www.mass.gov/mrc/ship
- SIB - Self-Injurious Behavior
- SILC - Statewide Independent Living Council
- SNF - Skilled Nursing Facility
- SPDU - State Police Detective Unit, http://www.mass.gov/msp/
- SpEd - Special Education
- SSA - Social Security Administration, http://www.ssa.gov/
- SSDI - Supplemental Security Disability Income
- SSI - Supplemental Security Income, http://www.ssa.gov/notices/supplemental-security-income/
T
- TAC - Transitional Advisory Committee
- TASH - The Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, http://www.tash.org/
- TJTC - Targeted Job Tax Credit
- TPC - Transition Planning Committee
U-V
- UAP - University Affiliated Program
- UCPA - United Cerebral Palsy, http://www.ucp.org
- UFAS - United Federal Access Standards
- VG - Virtual Gateway
- VNA - Visiting Nurses Association
- VOR - Voice of the Retarded, http://www.vor.net/
W-Z
- WIC- The Massachusetts Woman, Infants, and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program, http://www.mass.gov/wic
Note: If there are any other common acronyms you would like to suggest, contact us at: DDS.info@state.ma.us.
This information is provided by the Department of Developmental Services.