We’ve all seen those medical shows on television in which doctors burst into the emergency room demanding BPs, CBCs, PTs, PTTs, EKGs… “STAT!” While it makes for a very dramatic episode, there probably aren’t many people who can really say that they understand exactly what the doctor is asking for.

Abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms are all shortened forms of words or phrases used in place of whole words or phrases. Examples include: “misc” (miscellaneous), “ASAP” (as soon as possible), and “USA” (United States of America). We usually use them to speed up writing/reading, to make messages less wordy/easier to read, or to make text fit in a limited amount of space. While abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms are often collectively referred to as “abbreviations,” there are some differences.

When attending your child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting or reading your child’s IEP, you may read and hear a LOT of abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms (hereby collectively referred to as “abbreviations” – Whew! That’s so much easier! LOL). Sometimes the IEP meeting might sound a lot like that doctor who dramatically bursts into the ER. When abbreviations are used, the people using them assume that everyone knows what they mean, but that’s not always the case. During an IEP meeting, it is essential for you to understand what is being said. If you hear or read something that isn’t familiar to you, write down unfamiliar words/abbreviations/definitions, ask questions, and take notes. We’ve listed abbreviations often used in special education on the next page. You might find it helpful to keep a copy with you during your child’s IEP meeting.