Glossary

Below is a list of common acronyms often used by CEC and in the special education field. Avoid using acronyms and jargon whenever possible, as they might not be familiar to our audiences and can cause confusion. This list is not exhaustive of all possible acronyms you may encounter.

• ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act
• ADD/ADHD – Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• CASE – Council of Administrators of Special Education
• CCC – Complex and Chronic Conditions: The Division for Physical, Health, and Multiple Disabilities
• CEC – Council for Exceptional Children
• CEC-DLL – Division of Leaders and Legacy
• CEC-DR – Division for Research
• CEDS – Council for Educational Diagnostic Services
• CEEDAR - Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability and Reform Center
• CEUs – continuing education units; much of CEC’s programming offers CEUs for members
• DADD – Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities
• DARTS – Division of Virtual and Performing Arts Education
• DCD – Division for Communication, Language, and Deaf/Heard of Hearing
• DCDT – Division on Career Development and Transition
• DDEL – Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners
• DEBH – Division for Emotional and Behavior Health
• DEC – Division for Early Childhood
• DISES – Division of International Special Education and Services
• DLD – Division for Learning Disabilities
• DVIDB – Division on Visual Impairments and Deafblindness
• EC – Exceptional Children, one of CEC’s journal publications
• EI – early intervention
• HLP – High-leverage practices
• HOH – hard of hearing
• IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• IEPs – Individualized Education Programs
• ISET – Innovations in Special Education Technology
• LCE – Life Centered Education
• MTSS – multi-tiered system of supports
• PBIS – Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
• PD –  Professional Development
• SELS - Special Education Legislative Summit
• SET – Special Education Today, CEC’s weekly newsletter
• SPED – abbreviation for Special Education; generally considered inappropriate
• TAG – The Association for the Gifted
• TEC – Teaching Exceptional Children, one of CEC’s journal publications
• TED – Teacher Education Division40
• YIC – Yes I Can Awards, one of CEC’s awards given to children and youth with exceptionalities in six categories: Academics, Arts, School & Community Activities, Self-Advocacy, Technology, and Transition.

Additional Resources

• IDEA-Related Acronym, Abbreviations, and Terms – Department of Education
• Special Education Acronyms – Inclusive Schools Network