• Frequently Asked Questions

     

    Acronyms for Special Education (37 Questions)

    1. ADA?

    Americans with Disabilities Act

    A federal law that protects the rights of individuals with disabilities

    2. ADRS?

    Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services

    A state agency that provides supports and services for individuals with disabilities and serves as the lead agency for Alabama's Early Intervention System

    3. AEIS?

    Alabama's Early Intervention System

    A statewide system of supports and services for eligible infants and toddlers, birth to age 3, with disabilities and their families (AEIS operates under federal and state law)

    4. AIDB?

    Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind

    ICC member state agency that provides supports and services for individuals with vision, hearing, and other disabilities

    5. ALSDE?

    Alabama State Department of Education

    6. AOD?

    Alabama Occupational Diploma

    7. APE?

    Adaptive Physical Education

    8. AT?

    Assistive Technology

    Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability

    9. BIP?

    Behavior Intervention Program/Plan

    10. CRD?

    Central Resource Directory

    Directory of statewide public and private service providers, family support organizations and EI Programs

    11. CRS?

    Children's Rehabilitation Service

    Division of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services that provides supports and services to children with special health care needs

    12. CSPD?

    Comprehensive System of Personnel Development

    A program that offers free workshops and training to parents and providers about AEIS and related topics

    13. D/F?

    Data/Financial

    The statewide system that compiles data and information on the cost and amount of services provided to eligible families

    14. DCC?

    District Coordinating Council

    A group of parents and service providers who meet periodically to coordinate a districtwide plan of EI supports, services, workshops, and family forums (there are seven district councils in Alabama)

    15. DEIC?

    District Early Intervention Coordinator

    AEIS staff who serves as the district contact point for referred families and who work closely with EI programs and District Coordinating Councils

    16. DHR?

    Department of Human Resources

    ICC member state agency responsible for supports and services to families and children in abuse or neglect situations

    17. DMH/MR?

    Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation

    ICC member state agency responsible for supports and services to individuals with developmental delays, mental illness, and mental retardation

    18. DPH?

    Department of Public Health

    ICC member state agency responsible for health-related services to families and children

    19. DSP?

    Direct Service Provider

    Qualified individual or group that is authorized to provide specific early intervention services to eligible children and families

    20. E&A?

    Evaluation and Assessment

    A required procedure by qualified personnel to determine a child's initial and ongoing eligibility for AEIS and the unique activities and supports needed by that child and family

    21. EI?

    Early Intervention

    Supports and services designed to meet the developmental needs of each eligible child, age birth to three, who has a developmental delay or a diagnosed condition that will probably result in developmental delay, and the needs of the family related to helping the child's development

    22. EPSDT?

    Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment

    A statewide Medicaid program to screen, diagnose and treat health problems in children birth to age 21

    23. ESY?

    Extended School Year

    24. FAPE?

    Free and Appropriate Public Education

    Education provided under public supervision and expense by the State Department of Education

    25. FBA?

    Functional Behavioral Analysis

    26. FPSC?

    Financial Planning Subcommittee

    A standing subcommittee of the ICC that reviews and provides advice on AEIS funding and expenditures

    27. IDEA?

    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

    The federal law that provides directives to states on the development of early intervention systems and special education services

    28. IEP?

    Individual Education Program

    A written plan developed by the IEP team for eligible children ages 3-21 years.

    29. IQ?

    Intelligence Quotient

    30. LEA?

    Local Education Agency

    The public entity legally responsible for the provision of public education within the community

    31. LRE?

    Least Restrictive Environment

    The least restrictive educational environment where the eligible child's education needs can be met

    32. NCLB?

    No Child Left Behind

    33. OT?

    Occupational Therapy

    Training and services administered by a qualified provider to aid development in self-care and in play to help motor development

    34. PT?

    Physical Therapy

    Training and services administered by a qualified provider to aid motor development and movement

    35. RTI?

    Response to Intervention/Instruction

    36. SDE?

    State Department of Education

    37. SES?

    Special Education Services

    Division within the State Department of Education 

    Gifted Education (11 Questions)

    1. Can my kindergarten child be identified as gifted?

    Students must be six years old and be enrolled in a public school within the LEA and to be referred for gifted. 

    1. Does my child ever have to be reevaluated for the gifted program once he/she has been identified as gifted?

    No. Once a child has been identified as gifted, he/she retains that identification.

    1. Does the federal government provide funding for gifted programs?

    The only federal funds specifically earmarked for gifted education are the Javits Grants which support research centers. Gifted does not fall under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), so federal funds are not used for local gifted programming as they are for special education programming.

    1. If my child does not qualify for gifted services, will he/she ever have another chance?

    If a child does not qualify for gifted services, he/she is not excluded from future consideration. 

    1. My family is moving to Montgomery from another public school system in Alabama where my child was identified as gifted. Does my child have to be referred for gifted services again?

    No. If a student is identified as gifted in another LEA (Local Education Agency) in Alabama, the student does not have to be referred for gifted. LEA’s within Alabama accept identification from other public schools LEA’s in the state.  

    1. My family is moving to Montgomery from another state. How will my child's previous identification as a gifted student be handled?

    Each Local Education Agency (LEA) in Alabama establishes procedures for the identification of gifted students and for the delivery of services to those students, consistent with the Alabama Administrative Code. In order to have your child assessed, you will need to complete a request for a gifted referral. It would be helpful if the information from the previous school was provided with the request. Depending on the information provided by the previous school, your child may or may not need additional assessments for the gifted program. For further information, contact your child's principal, teacher, the gifted specialist assigned to the school, or the gifted coordinator.

    1. What is "twice exceptional"?Students who are identified as twice-exceptional may have learning disabilities that mask their giftedness. These students may require different identification methods and program modifications to reach their full potential. It should not be assumed that students with disabilities cannot participate in gifted and talented programs.
    1. Why is the program service delivery model in secondary school different from the elementary school model?

    The middle school and high school service delivery is different from the elementary structure in that students have the option of participating in advanced classes for which they have demonstrated a need for the challenge. They may also take electives in areas of interest. They receive differentiated instruction from their subject area teachers and there is no QUEST resource pullout option in middle and high school.