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Welcome to Siena's blog, your source for helpful, cutting-edge resources tailored to teachers, parents, and other advocates in the learning differences community. We are dedicated to providing a wealth of curated knowledge spanning various topics, ranging from dyslexia advocacy and awareness to classroom teaching strategies, heritage month profiles, and social and emotional health.

 

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Common Acronyms in LD Education: Understanding the Language

October 03, 2023
By Joe Fruscione, Communications, Content, and Advancement Coordinator

Every professional field has its own lingo, and special education is no exception. As part of Dyslexia Awareness Month 2023, Siena is pleased to offer a short, useful guide to terms that parents will read and hear often as they navigate their child’s education.

Terms such as LD (Learning Differences), IEP (Individualized Education Program), LBLD (Language-Based Learning Differences), and SLD (Specific Learning Disability/Disorder) are common. Parents could hear these often when first connecting with an admissions representative or learning specialist, as well as when going through testing, the IEP process, and discussions with friends and neighbors..

Parents new to the LD community might be wondering about understanding the process and language around an LD diagnosis as they take the appropriate next steps.  

Common Terms in the LD Community

Acronyms in the LD community are a useful shorthand for frequently used terms that are integral to the process. This helps make conversations more fluid and understandable during key times, such as:

  • neuropsychological evaluation, 
  • IEP consultation,
  • meeting with teachers or administrators 
  • school admissions materials, and
  • discovery call or tour with an admissions team member.

Parents might talk with various specialists, school administrators, advocates, and so on, and having a shared language means having a shared understanding during such an important time. Here are some commonly used acronyms in LD education: 

Testing and Diagnosis

2e

Twice Exceptional

504

504 Individual Education Plan

ADHD

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

APD

Auditory Processing Disorder

CHADD

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

EF

Executive Functioning

GT/LD

Gifted and Talented/Learning Difference

LBLD

Language-Based Learning Differences

O-G

Orton-Gillingham reading method

OHI

Other Health Impaired

MSM

Multisensory Math

SLD

Specific Learning Disability

SLI

Speech-Language Impairment

SLP

Speech Language Pathologist or Structured Literacy Program

WIAT

Wechsler Individual Achievement Test

WISC

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children

WJ

Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery

Accommodations and Supports

AT

Assistive Technology

DCIDA

DC Capital Area Branch of the International Dyslexia Association

ESY

Extended School Year Services

IDA

International Dyslexia Association

IEP

Individualized Education Program

LDA

Learning Disabilities Association

OT

Occupational Therapy

WISER

Washington Independent Services for Educational Resources

 Dyslexia Resources for Families

Families in the LD community can also visit Siena’s resources page, student profile, and glossary of terms for additional help. The Siena blog has several posts for parents and community, including ones about the importance of early dyslexia diagnosis and intervention and building confidence in LD students.  

The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences on campuses in Silver Spring, MD (grades 3-12) and Oakton, VA (grades 3-11). 

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