A guide to important names, terms, and acronyms appearing in the autism literature.
Visitors have asked why I list some items by their acronyms instead of their full names. I chose to list an acronym if it is more commonly used than the full phrase for which it stands. This guide is not a dictionary, though it should help most visitors read academic literature about autism. I aimed to create short but useful listings. For longer definitions, you will need to look elsewhere.
Not everyone will agree with my definitions, reflecting some of the debates within the autism community.
– # –
504 Plan – in the United States, a special education plan that supports a student with minimal intervention. The number 504 refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (or “Rehab Act”) of 1973. The IEP (Individualized Education Plan) requires significant documentation and regular updates based on goals. By contrast, a 504 Plan documents how the classroom and instructional techniques meet the minimal support standard.
– A –
ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) – intensive one-on-one therapy based on a system of incentives and rewards. As of 2007, the most common therapy for severe autism. Many Autistic self-advocates oppose ABA as abusive, ignoring the needs of the Autistic. Associated with O. Ivar Lovaas, a problematic figure who developed ABA to “cure” homosexuality in boys identified as “effeminate.” The use of negative consequences, aversion therapy, also contributes to the Autistic community’s stance against ABA.
The professional organizations promoting ABA refer to the therapy model as the “gold standard” for addressing parental concerns about autistic traits. Yet, many of the studies supporting ABA suffer from conflicts of interest, since the studies are conducted by institutions and organizations that profit from the board certification process.
accommodations – adjustments made to a physical or digital space to help all individuals participate. Accommodations also include adjustments to interactions and presentations, such as redesigning classroom lessons to meet the needs of diverse learning styles.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) – U.S. law passed and signed into law in 1990 by Pres. George H. W. Bush, the ADA was amended in 2008. Autism is specifically mentioned in the ADA as a recognized disability. Within ADA, Titles I-IV might apply to accommodations for Autistics.
Title I: Employment Accommodations
Title II: Public Entities (Local, State, and Federal Governments and Agencies) providing equal access to services
Title III: Public Accommodations, including private spaces open to the public
Title IV: Telecommunications Accessibility
ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) – a form of Neurodiversity associated with difficulties with executive functions, such as time managment and personal organizing. Often co-morbid with autism spectrum disorders. Data suggest at least half of Autistics also meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis.
I dislike the “disorder” label for all traits grouped within Neurodiversity.
allistic – a label used within the Autism community to mean Not Autistic. Not to be confused with neurotypical, which implies no neurodivergent traits, including but not limited to autism.
APA (American Psychiatric Association) – professional organization for psychiatrists in the United States.
ASA (Autism Society of America) – the largest and one of the best-known autism advocacy organizations in the United States.
ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) – any of a group of disorders or personality types defined by specific characteristics in the DSM or ICD.
I recommend that we drop the “disorder” and reduce this to Autism Spectrum, which would include what was known as Asperger’s Syndrome.
Asperger, Hans – one of the first European mental health practitioners to describe mild forms of autism. Unfortunately, he tolerated the rise of the National Socialists and might have been complicit in eugenics. As scholars uncovered his ties to the Nazi party, Asperger’s name has fallen out of favor as a diagnostic label.
Asperger’s Syndrome/Disorder (AS/AD) – an outdated label for Autistics, Asperger’s Syndrome was applied to individuals without a significant language impairment but with mild to extreme social difficulties. Because Asperger was a Nazi collaborator, the label has been removed from most diagnostic guides, including the DSM and ICD.
Aspie – a self-identity embraced by some Autistics, a shortening of Asperger’s Syndrome, which was removed from diagnostic guides starting in 2013.
assessment – similar to a diagnosis; an evaluation to determine if an individual has a specific condition. Some schools offer assessments that are not the same as diagnoses.
Assessments are expensive and exclusive; not everyone can obtain an official assessment. Therefore, self-identification should not be rejected without consideration.
ASQ (Autism Screening Questionnaire) – a common instrument used to screen likely Autistics.
ASSQ (Asperger’s Syndrome Screening Questionnaire) – another instrument used to screen likely Autistics.
Au (stylized as Âû online) – Autistics have adopted the use of Âû in online spaces to indicate their identities and activism. The AU is the Autistic Union, also known as Autistics for Autistics.
AuDHD – a self-identity acronym adopted by some Autistics who are also ADHD. Variations include AuADHD and AuADH. Research projects have estimated the comorbidity of these two diagnoses to be greater than 50 percent.
Auditory Processing Disorder – often comorbid with autism spectrum disorders; often expressed as a sensitivity to sounds, especially background noises, but can also be an inability to focus on sounds.
Autie – a self-identity used by some Autistics.
Autism/Autistic – refers to the diagnosis, either professionally applied or self-adopted. Most Autistics dislike the phrase “with autism.”
Autism Speaks – an advocacy organization focused on “curing” autism and considered anti-Autistic by the self-advocacy movements.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) – the unified category used for Autistics in more recent editions of the DSM and by most mental health professionals. The “spectrum” recognizes that Autistics experience autism differently and their traits are unique, though connected by the major traits used to identify autism.
Again, I encourage the use of Autism Spectrum or, more simply, Autism, and omitting the inaccurate label ”disorder.” The problem with AS is its association with Asperger’s Syndrome, but that might fade over time.
Autistic – preferred by most Autistics, though some fields still insist on “person-first” language, leading to the use of “with autism,” separating the Autistic from the very traits that individual might consider essential to self-identity. Often capitalized by Autistic self-advocates.
If someone wishes to identify as “with autism” that should not be challenged by other Autistics or proponents of Neurodiversity. I use “Autistic,” but I also use it only when might be relevant. When I discuss my role as an educator, I do not wish to be described as an “Autistic teacher” or a “teacher with autism” — focus on my teaching identity.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN)- an organization of Autistics that advocates for self-identity and supports for Autistics.
– B –
Baron-Cohen, Simon – researcher and author of numerous articles and books on autism.
BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) – the individual who oversees ABA therapy. That this certification is a registered trademark highlights a major concern Autistic-led organizations have regarding ABA therapies.
Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP) – a plan, often within a school setting, for helping reduce risks to a student and those around the student. A common BIP approach is to guide a student to a quiet space or sensory room to promote self-regulation.
Bettelheim, Bruno – author of The Empty Fortress, responsible for promoting the “refrigerator mother” theory of autism. Discredited as a theorist and as a care provider by biographer Richard Pollak. Bettelheim misrepresented his academic credentials, which were primarily a doctorate in art.
– C –
CAP (Comprehensive Autism Planning System) – an education plan for an Autistic individual, with an emphasis on predictability.
CARS (Childhood Autism Rating Scale) – an instrument used to identify young Autistics.
Central Coherence Theory – the ability to interpret a situation quickly.
CLE (College Living Experience) – specialized support at a college or university for ASD students; promotes independence from parents and the ability to adapt to new settings.
comorbidity – two or more conditions being diagnosed as co-existing; autism is often comorbid with other physical and psychological conditions.
Cure Autism Now (CAN) – an advocacy organization that promotes supposed “cures” for autism. Most Autistic self-advocates dislike the cure-first approach of CAN.
– D –
diagnosis – a determination by a medical or mental health professional that one has a specific condition, disorder, or disease.
Because assessments and diagnoses come at significant costs or require excellent insurance, Neurodiversity includes accepting the validity of self-diagnoses.
dyscalculia – a form of Neurodiversity that includes difficulties with numeracy. Learning to perform mathematical calculations is difficult for individuals with dyscalculia, who often struggle with orders of operation and other concepts.
dysgraphia – a form of Neurodiversity with which someone has difficulty translating thoughts into written language. Often misdiagnosed as dyslexia, but dysgraphia rarely affects reading fluency. Many dysgraphics can type, yet handwriting presents a problem that appears similar to dyslexia.
dyslexia – a form of Neurodiversity that features difficulty reading and writing, with letters “jumbling” in the mind.
DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the APA) – a guide used by mental health professionals to evaluate individuals via checklists and quadrant models.
dysregulated/dysregulation – unable to self-regulate behaviors due to external stress. Meltdowns and shutdowns are forms of dysregulation.
– E –
echolalia – repeating words or sounds, “echoing” auditory input.
echopraxia – mirroring the movements of another person. This is the kinetic version of echolalia, and they often coexist.
eligibility – a legal term indicating an individual qualifies for special services mandated by law; might require a diagnosis, but not always.
Enactive Mind – the ability to enact and recreate perceptions and experiences.
executive functions – aspects of self-regulation that include planning, anticipating changes, organizing, and managing one’s time and environment. Autism and ADHD diagnostic criteria include executive function deficits.
– F –
Facilitated Communication (FC) – using an assistant to help (facilitate) communication, usually using a keyboard or chart of letters.
Independent tests have generally suggested the facilitator leads the movements and “communication.” Eye-tracking and other tests have found that non-verbal individuals often aren’t looking at the chart or keyboard. Some research does support FC; this is an ongoing area of research… and debate.
Fombonne, Eric – epidemiologist responsible for peer-reviewed statistical measures of autism rates.
Free [and] Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) – the legal mandate that public schools provide an appropriate education to all students, regardless of their differences.
– G –
GFCF (Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet) – diet some suggest reduces the symptoms of autism; scientific literature on the topic is minimal and inconclusive
Grandin, Temple – professor of animal behavior known for her autobiographical books on autism and life as an Autistic.
Grinker, Roy Richard – anthropologist and researcher, also the parent of an Autistic.
– H –
HFA (High-Functioning Autism) – used to describe Autistic individuals with significant social and linguistic impairments but roughly of average intelligence.
Describing Autistic experiences in terms of “severity” should be avoided. The same individual might mask well one day and be nonverbal the next; the expression of autism changes.
hidden curriculum – the social lessons learned in academic settings; social values conveyed by teachers and other students.
hyperlexia – a form of Neurodiversity that features an ability to read at an advanced level. Often, parents and teachers presume the hyperlexic student possesses the corresponding comprehension, causing conflicts.
– I –
ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) – the international equivalent of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders of the APA.
IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 1975) – U.S. law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities. The IDEA was amended in 2004 and in 2015 as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act.
IDEIA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, 2004) – the official reauthorization and expansion of the IDEA.
IEP (Individualized Education Plan/Program) – a plan developed by a designated team at a school site, collaborating with parents or guardians of a student to ensure compliance with the IDEA.
IQ (Intelligence Quotient) – a number used to predict the ability to learn, often indicative of pattern recognition skills. Most IQ scales set “100” as the median or mean cognitive potential. The well-known Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale uses 100 as the median and a standard deviation of approximately 15 points.
– K –
Kanner, Leo – one of the first to document autism and describe it as a unique disorder or range of disorders
– L –
Least-Restrictive Environment (LRE) – in education, a setting that does not restrict the participation or potential of any student, regardless of physical or cognitive differences.
Lovaas, O. Ivar – the leading proponent of ABA therapy methods. Lovaas wanted to “cure” effeminate boys and then adapted this therapy to treat autism. Many Autistic self-advocates oppose ABA because of Lovaas’ troubling statements about Autistics and the history of his methods.
– M –
MAPS (McGill Action Planning System) – a model for inclusion of all in a school or other community setting. The model encourages prioritizing the individual’s history, goals, needs, and strengths.
masking – attempting to hide one’s Autistic traits; trying to “pass” for allistic or neurotypical. Masking is often a response to previous traumatic experiences in social settings, including classrooms and workplaces.
meltdown – an intense reaction to sensory input or emotional experiences, often associated with stimming and other self-regulatory behaviors.
mental retardation – Only included as a warning! This phrase is extremely offensive and inappropriate; before the 1980s the label was assigned to individuals whose IQ was estimated to be 65 or lower on a 100-normed scale. Never use this phrase.
MIND (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) – institute at the University of California, Davis, dedicated to researching autism and developmental disorders.
– N –
neurodivergent – having a different, minority neuropsychology, including but not limited to autism, ADHD, and other cognitively atypical traits. Some argue individuals are neurodivergent, while groups or shared settings with some neurodivergent people are neurodiverse.
Because “divergent” refers to an outlier that is flawed in some academic fields, I prefer Autistic for myself. However, neurodivergent is increasingly popular among Autistics.
I encourage you to read Neurodiversity: Some Basic Terms & Definitions by Nick Walker, Ph.D.
neurodiverse and neurodiversity – the idea that no two neurological systems are identical; groups feature neurodiversity since all people process inputs differently. A person might be described as neurodivergent (admittedly, a term I dislike, see above) and a group of individuals is inherently neurodiverse.
Aren’t all groups of two or more neurodiverse? We need more descriptive language, but I am at a loss for suggestions.
Neurodiversity [Movement] – the self-advocacy movement promoting civil rights and acceptance for the neurodiverse community. Advocates now debate if neurodiversity refers to all people or only neurodivergent individuals.
neurominority – not belonging to the “normal” brain neurology; preferred by some Autistics over neurodivergent.
neurotypical (NT) – not having any neurodivergent traits, including autism. Also see allistic.
NIMH (National Institute for Mental Health) – the primary U.S. federal agency responsible for researching and supporting mental health in the United States; one of several components within the National Institutes of Health.
– O –
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) – a difference that is sometimes comorbid with autism, but clinicians differ on if this is autism resembling OCD or if OCD exists apart from the autism symptoms.
OSEP (Office of Special Education Programs) – the U.S. Dept. of Education office created to oversee special education.
OSERS (Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services) – a U.S. Dept. of Education office covering special education and rehabilitation programs.
– P –
PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) – a school-based approach to developing inclusive educational settings. The core concept is that positive behaviors must be defined, taught, and reinforced to ensure young students understand expectations. An extension of PBIS is Culturally Responsive PBIS (CR-PBIS), which includes training teachers to be aware of cultural differences before defining expectations, thereby preventing the creation of classroom rules that would conflict with household or community standards.
PCP (Person-Centered Planning) – creating an accommodation plan for a disability with a team led by the individual with support needs. In theory, this prioritizes the desires and wishes of the disabled person, who has the authority to approve or reject any element of the plan.
PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified) – diagnostic label rarely used since the publications of the DSM5; often included Asperger’s Syndrome.
PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) – use of photo or illustration flashcards to communicate; some systems also used picture boards.
perseveration – a repetitive or continuous thought or action. In the 1960s, perseveration was considered a sign of neurological damage or mental illness, a mistaken view that persists today among some clinicians.
PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) – a mental health condition that follows extreme trauma. Many Autistics experience repeated traumas, leading to PTSD.
– R –
RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) – a failure to form emotional attachments to primary caregivers by five years of age; should not be confused with developmental disorders. [ICD-10 94.1 and 94.2; DSM-IV 313.89]
RDI (Relationship Development Intervention) –
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act) –
Rett’s Disorder – a disorder caused by mutations in the gene MECP2 located on the X chromosome, which predominantly affects girls, as male fetuses with the disorder rarely survive to term. Often included in texts as an autism spectrum disorder. [ICD-10 84.2]
Rimland, Bernard – author of an early text on autism, Autism: Syndrome and Implications for Neural Theory of Behavior.
– S –
Sensory Integration Therapy – therapy meant to reduce sensitivity to external stimuli.
sensory processing – how the mind interprets inputs from the five senses.
Shore, Stephen – Autistic advocate, author, and university instructor.
shutdown – similar to a meltdown, a response to sensory stimuli or emotional experiences; a withdrawal from interactions.
SIB (Self-Injurious Behavior) – ranges from minor slapping of hands against the body to serious harm to the self
social cognition – the ability to understand and respond to social contexts appropriately. Autistic individuals demonstrate impaired social cognition.
special interest – the area of knowledge or skills about which an Autistic is passionate.
When an Autistic has an intense specialization, it’s a “special” interest; when other people have intense interests, those are either “specialties” or “interests.” This language denigrates the interests of Autistics. Most people have “interests,” and that should be sufficiently descriptive.
spectrum, the – some people use “the spectrum” as a shortening of Autism Spectrum.
stimming – a shortening of self-stimulation or self-stimulatory behavior, these are sounds, motions, or other actions adopted by an Autistic to provide self-regulation under stress.
SWPBS (School-Wide Positive Behavior Supports) – [tt]
– T –
Theory of Mind (ToM) – ability to understand and interpret the actions of others; a theory of empathy
– V –
Verbal Behavior Intervention – [tt]
– W –
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) – [diag]
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) – [diag]
WHO (World Health Organization) – [org/diag]