This glossary serves to provide a basic understanding of the terms used with autistic children, from a parent's perspective.
Use the links to find specific and more accurate information to guide you.

A - BC- D - EF- GH - I - JKL - MN - OPQ - RST - UVW - XYZ


 

ABA- Applied Behavioral Analysis - Also known as ABA. Many professionals are connected wtth this therapy : Dr. Lovaas – Dr.Vincent Carbone – Dr. McGreevy One-on-one, individualized programs using the principles of behavior analysis- put simply-- learning via reinforcing desired behaviors (responses.) Often confused with Discrete Trial (DTT), which is based upon ABA, but a different approach--often referred to as 'strict' ABA, developed by [and continuing to evolve] by Dr. Ivar Lovaas. Differences between implementation can be significant, as can be QUALITY, when done inadequately. Click the first link for a more specific and far more accurate description, as provided by the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. See also Association for Behavior Analysis (ABA) -- www.wmich.edu/aba (ABA's main site), Behaviorology.Anywhere-- B.F. Skinner Foundation - -- Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis -- Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior .

Apraxia - A Speech Oral Motor Impairment- Click here for a great sites: THE APRAXIA KIDS SITE.

Aspergers Syndrome- A form of autism with specific behaviors. Generally referred to as higher functioning autism. Click here for a comprehensive site on this topic.

Auditory Integration Training (AIT) 'Individuals who are hypersensitive to sound may be better able to process sound frequencies more evenly and comfortably, to increase attention span, improve articulation and language skills, and reduce irritability.'

Appropriate - The kind of education your child deserves by law (as in FAPE), not to be confused with 'best'. In addition, "Degree is immaterial to appropriateness". (Go to wrightslaw and look up the 'Rowley' case for the exact language on this term.).

Chester County Intermediate Unit - An 'educational service agency' that–for autistic children–per IDEA is obligated to provide a FAPE to Chester County children age 3 to 5, after which the child's school district becomes responsible for providing a FAPE to age 18.

CARS- Childhood Autism Rating Scale- a diagnostic tool for placing a child on the autistic spectrum. Originated with TEACCH program in NC. A score of 15-29 is considered 'non-autistic', a score of 30-36 is considered 'autistic', and a score of 37-60 is considered 'severely autistic'.

Caselaw- Court decisions from past due process hearings in the US. Caselaw 'findings' become interpretations of IDEA that affect your child's education. Caselaw , IDEA and Chapter 14 regs are three things you should be familiar with if you live in Pennsylvania.

CER- Comprehensive Evaluation Report. Also called the 'ER'. A report on the findings of any standardized tests, observations, assessments by the IU or school district as well as reports/evals/medical evaluations and 'parental input' provided by parents/caregivers. It is important that whatever the IEP team uses to determine and create the IEP be PHYSICALLY INCLUDED in the final CER. In addition, if parents decide to disagree with findings in the CER to any degree (small points and/or large discrepancies), they have the right to have their letter of disagreement be attached to the final CER. A final copy of the CER should be provided to parents at or before the IEP meeting, as the IEP meeting content, is (by law– thereby should be in practice), based upon the CER alone.

Chapter 14 - Pennsylvania law that adds to/enhances Federal regulations on special ed law referred to as IDEA. Get your free personal copy of Chapter 14 regulations and IDEA by calling your local rep or senator's office

Dietary Intervention - Changes in diet with autistic children, which may include eliminating dairy (casein), wheat (gluten), some fruits, chocolate, vitamin and/or mineral supplements. Click for details from the Autism Research Institute. Like many interventions, it has both supporters and critics.

Diagnosis- A medical professional's recognition of a child's specific situation, required to receive some services. *With autism, current evidence suggests that symptoms of autism are measurable by 18 months of age, and autism can be reliably diagnosed by or before age three.  Parents and expert clinicians can often detect symptoms during infancy, although a formal diagnosis is generally not made until the child fails to develop functional language by age two or later.  Research is seeking to determine whether studies of home video observations of subtle motor and social behaviors may lead to behavioral diagnosis in the first year. * From testimony of Dr. Debra Hirtz, NIH, to the Committee on Govt. Reform, April, 2000. DSM-4 Criteria for Autistic Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD NOS),provided by FEAT from Source: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th Edition, American Psychiatric Association, 1994.

Discrete Trials - (DTT) A 'subset' or specific way of applying Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA. DTT usually refers to Dr. Ivar Lovaas' work/studies. One of several forms of instruction using ABA as its base. Detractors point out aversives used in early 1970's that no longer exist in modern protocol, as well as the rigidity of the program .

DMSA Used in chelation. Meso-2,3-dimercapto succinic acid (DMSA) and lipoic acid (LA) are given orally to children with autism by a physician over a specific time span in specific on/off blocks of time in order to draw out mercury and other toxic metals from the brain. In general, noticeable improvements in language, self-help skills, interaction and core autistic features were not seen until the patient has been on DMSA with LA for two to three months. At this time is considered experimental.

FAPE - Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)- Federal law, defined by IDEA, a right of any autistic or disabled child, from birth to age 18.

Fast ForWord A well-profiled reading program available from Scientific Learning Company -

Fluency- Being able to generalize a concept across different environments and situations. May also refer to the speed in which a person responds to a question. Measuring fluency often uses celeration charts, which clearly show acquisition and generalization levels. See the celeration society and their links for details. Some savvy schools use it with all kids to measure progress and provide a visual reinforcer for kids to measure their personal progress.

Fully-integrated- An autistic child who is put in a classroom setting with non-disabled children, may or may not include an aide. Somewhat synonymous with 'inclusive', but in PA, refers to complete and supported participation in ALL typical actvities (assemblies, special events, etc) as opposed to participation by proximity to activities. "A student need not first fail before being placed in a less inclusive class." (See 24 IDELR 962 (OSEP 1996). (Basically synonymous with inclusive below).

Goals- Skills that your child is reasonably calculated to achieve within a span of time. When referring to IEP goals, this means within a year. "Goals should be reasonably calculated for success and meaningful to the child's overall educational progress (See case law; Polk vs. Central Susquehanna IU 1988). If problems arise in achieving goals, the IEP should be revised. This should occur as often as needed with a minimum guideline of once a year offered under IDEA 1977."

High Functioning (or Moderate or Low functioning). A subjective measure of the present functional ability of a child with autism. Children with Aspergers are generally considered high functioning. There is no universally accepted measure of 'functioning'. A professional with training and extensive experience with children with autism would have a reliable opinion on the present functioning of a child.

Holmes, Dr. Amy et al., in Private Practice at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as at the Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, are conducting a trial with over 400 autistic patients for the removal of heavy metals, called chelation (kee-lay-shun). They are using meso-2,3-dimercapto succinic acid (DMSA) and lipoic acid (LA). In general, noticeable improvements in language, self-help skills, interaction and core autistic features were not seen until the patient has been on DMSA with LA for two to three months. The majority of children excreted mercury, lead and other metals, suggesting that there may be a generalized problem with metal metabolism. The researchers reported that younger children respond well to this therapy with noticeable improvement in function.

IDEA- Federal law that provides funding, administration, requirements and legal recourse among other things, for disabled children, including those with autism from age of diagnoses through to 'regular' graduation. Congress is considering bills to increase federal funding over 20%. Current US special education costs average about $8000 a year for a child with autism. (Source CDC.gov.)

IEP or Individualized Education Program- a formal, written document developed by the IEP team including parents, school officials, teachers. Specifies (how/what/when/how much) your child's FAPE will be provided by your school district. As required by federal law IDEA.

 Inclusive- (see fully-integrated) An autistic child who is put in a classroom setting with non-disabled children, may or may not include an aide. Somewhat synonymous with 'inclusive', but in PA, refers to complete participation in ALL typical actvities (assemblies, special events, etc) as opposed to participation by proximity to activities. "A student need not first fail before being placed in a less inclusive class." (See 24 IDELR 962 (OSEP 1996). 300.55 (b) (2) of IDEA requires "the placement [IEP] team consider whether the child can be educated in less restrictive settings with the use of appropriate supplementary aids and services." A child does not need to earn the right or prove their readiness to be included with typical peers.

Interventions- Ways of treating ('remediating' (reducing and/or eliminating the characteristics of) autism.

Koegel, Dr. Lynn and Peter- The Koegels work out of California, and are experts in the field of teaching children with autism using ABA. Their applied research has lead to Pivotal Response Training.

Lovaas, Dr. Ivar - (1987). A Professor in the Dept. of Psychology at UCLA, Director of Clinic there working with children with autism, as well as supervising 'replication sites'. His study: Behavioral Treatment and normal educational and intellectual functioning in young autistic children. Published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, p55, p3-9. This research was the first and many have followed to indicate that 'intensive applied behavioral analysis methods (also called behavioral treatment) can produce comprehensive and lasting improvements in many important skilll areas for most people with autism regardless of their age. No other treatment for autism offers comparable evidence of effectiveness. Despite the evidence, families with young autistic children are often told incorrectly that all treatments are equally effective, or even more inaccurately, that behavioral intervention is ineffective or harmful....They are likely to be encouraged to ...mix and match among the many options on the market." (source: Gina Green, Chapter 3, p29, in Catherine Maurices' Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism.. Publisher Pro-Ed Press (www.proedinc.com) 800-897-3202. Also available on Amazon or locally at Barnes & Noble.

Lisa Lewis, Ph.D. - a pioneer in developing gluten-free/casein-free dietary options for autistic kids. Check out her book "Special Diets for Special Kids".

Methodology - This is an important concept for parents and teachers to understand. Not to be confused with 'accomodations' or 'specially designed instruction', this is the precise method a SD or agency will rely upon in order to provide the '-APE' part of 'FAPE'.

Mercury Poisoning - There is growing (and controversial) research that suggests a link between mercury (thimerosal), a substance in vaccinations, with the autism epidemic, as well as ADHD, juvenile diabetes and others.

Neuropsychological Testing - Neuropsychological assessment is often an integral part of diagnosing and treating the cognitive (mental) and behavioral effects of a brain injury or other neurological condition which may alter or compromise brain functioning, like autism. Neuropsychological testing involves assessment of a variety of cognitive skills including memory, attention and concentration, visual perception, problem solving and motor skills.

NIH National Institute of Health - also  NIH AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE (NIH/ACC).
The NIH/ACC was established in response to a 1996 Congressional request that NIH establish a mechanism to coordinate its autism research activities and assure the most effective use of its resources.  Its members include the Directors of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), and the NINDS, as well as the program staff who manage the autism research portfolios of these institutes.   The committee was recently expanded to include advisory representatives from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).  Representatives from the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Education have also been invited to participate in specific topic-focused meetings of the NIH/ACC.   The full committee meets at least three times a year to coincide with meetings of the Institutes’ national advisory councils, and meets annually with representatives of autism research advocacy organizations. Working with National ASA, the NIH recently upped funding for the study of autism.

PECS- PECS was developed in Delaware over 10 years ago by Bondy and Frost (1994a). Using small, sometimes portable notebooks filled with simple pictures, children communicate by using the pictures (giving them to someone, or pointing to them) to indicate what they want. PECS begins with teaching a student to exchange a picture of a desired item with a teacher, who immediately honors the request. Verbal prompts are not used, thus building immediate initiation and avoiding prompt dependency. The system goes on to teach discrimination of symbols and then puts them all together in simple "sentences." Children are also taught to comment and answer direct questions. Many preschoolers using PECS also begin developing speech. The foundation for the system is the PECS Training Manual, written by Lori Frost, MS, CCC/SLP and Dr. Andrew Bondy. The manual provides all of the necessary information to implement PECS effectively. It guides readers through the six phases of training and provides examples, helpful hints and templates for data and progress reporting. This training manual is recognized by professionals in the fields of communication and behavior analysis as one of the most innovative systems available.

Parent- Parent or legal guardian who is a child's best advocate, and by living with them 24 hours a day for the greatest part of their life, the most experienced member of the IEP team for that child.

Pendency- The 'stay-put' rule. When you are attempting to resolve a dispute with a district or early intervention, your child's educational placement does not change, that is, your child stays put until you resolve the dispute. See IDEA, CFR 300.514 states: Child's Status During Proceedings: "During the pendency of any administrative or judicial proceeding regarding a complaint under 300.507, unless the State or local agency and the parents of the child agree otherwise, the child involved in the complaint must remain in his or her current educational placement." Source: Federal Register/Vol. 64, No. 48, page 12452: CFR 300.514 (page 12615 for comments.)

PDD- Pervasive developmental disorder - Also PDD-NOS (Not Otherwise Specified.) defined as being within the autism spectrum. Treatment interventions are the same as for a diagnosis of autism.

Pivotal Response Training - PRT in conjunction with ABA principles, 'emphasizes incidental learning (where the child is given choices and teaching centers around the child's preferred activity) and natural reinforcers (the child is allowed to play with the toy he selects, rather than given an "M&M", for instance). ' . See Dr. Lynn and Dr. Peter Koegel's work on this concept, check Amazon for their three books.

Precision Teaching- A way of teaching behaviors and marking progress (growth or decay) precisely over time using a Standard Celeration Chart (SCC) offers numerous advantages in interpreting quantitative information. For example the SCC represents data "proportionally" instead of "absolutely." Precision teaching (PT) was created by Ogden Lindsley in 1965. Dr. Lindsley wanted to provide a graphic language for changes in learning. He put a day by day calendar across the bottom of a piece of semi-log graph paper. The semi-log paper made it possible for teachers to show a range of behavior from 1 to 1,000,000 in a day. Thousands of students have been taught since these beginnings, but PT is not very widely known. PT measures a performance and allows students to make progress against their own best records, not against other students. See the celeration society and their links for details.

Rimland, Dr. Bernard- a pioneer in dietary interventions to treat autism. See also Dr. Lisa Lewis.

Replication Site- Usually through a University, this commonly refers to an organization that is working with (for instance) the Lovaas Institute in California to (a) provide ABA services (b) continue Lovaas' research in a different location. Locally, New Jersey Institute is such a site.

SAM- Service Access Management- An organization whose obligation is to administer Early Intervention services in Berks County to (among others) autistic and PDD children from birth to age 3, and in a separate dept. age 3-5. SAM can provide, MA and SSI forms, a list of wrap-around service providers, information on grants, waivers and general information through your assigned caseworker.

Singh, Vijendra, Ph.D- is with the Department of Biology & Biotechnology Center, Utah State University. Research covers autoimmunity aspect of vaccines in autism. Recently testified April 2000 to Govt. Reform Commitee.

Social Stories-  Carol Grey of The Gray Center developed a technique known as "Social Stories" for helping autistic people learn about social behaviour, based on the ancient idea of telling illustrative stories.

Stimming - Stimming is short for Self Stimulatory Behavior. It is usually used to describe repetitious behaviors that seem pointless to people without autism. This can be in the form of hand flapping, twirling, singing, humming, repeating sounds overand over again, screeching, chewing clothing, chewing self, and other behaviors. A behavior plan can help either to replace it with a more socially accepted behavior or diminish the occurence.

Taylor, Dr. Bridget Ann- Known to most first as 'the therapist' in Karen Seroussi's book about the dramatic recovery of her son Miles. Ms. Taylor is cofounder of the Alpine Learning School in New Jersey.

 TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped CHildren) TEACCH is a state-wide, state-funded program in North Carolina which serves people with autism and their families. Founded by Eric Schopler, now directed by Gary Mesibov, Ph.D.. An all-encompassing program promoting 'consistent principles over a lifetime'. Focuses on FUNCTIONAL skills, reliance on visual tools and structures. Was found 'promising' by MADSEC's Autism Task Force. More about TEACCH. - A critics link.

Testing- There are numerous tests used to help gauge the development, abilities and weaknesses of a child with autism. Each test has its weaknesses as well.


 

Wakefield, Dr. Andy. - Dr. Wakefield, recently of the Royal Free hospital in north London and considered the one of the world's foremost experts on inflammatory bowel disease. Extensive studies of the MMR connection to autism. Working with over 200 children with autism in England and had a waiting list extending into 2003. His research continues. For more information, browse www.feat.org.

Wright, Peter- Pete Wright is a special ed lawyer who has a comprehensive legal site WrightsLaw for parents and educators. He works out of California iwth his wife Pamela Darr Wright. His books can be purchased on Amazon, or locally at Barnes & Noble.

Sources: The Black Book from Ed Law Center, various internet sites, the Apraxia website, FEAT, National ASA, Wrights Law book and website, as well as caselaws from Wrightslaw.com.


Information contained on this website is provided to help parents and professionals to understand autism and the services available locally pertaining to treating autism. We do not endorse or recommend any organization or person, and any link or mention in our website in any way should not be construed as such. If you have questions about autism, you should consult a qualified medical professional. © 2000, 2004. Site last updated: December 7, 2004