Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Applied Behavior Analysis.

Ankle-Foot Orthotic. A hard, molded plastic brace that provides rigid support for the foot, heel, ankle, and calf.

Autism Spectrum Disorder.

A hole in the wall of the heart between the upper two chambers.

A developmental disorder of variable severity characterized by difficulty in social interaction and communication and by restricted or repetitive patterns of thought and behavior.

Characteristics of ASD that may include problems with social interaction, ritualistic behaviors, repetitive movements, or a variety of abilities.

Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Specialist in heart diseases and abnormalities.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

A threadlike structure of nucleic acids and protein found in the nucleus of most living cells, carrying genetic information in the form of genes.

More than one condition or disease occurring at the same time.

Also known as congenital anomaly. A physical defect present at birth.

A genetic variant that occurs for the first time in one family member.

A group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.

A pediatrician specialized in children with developmental disorders.

Durable Medical Equipment.

A self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.

Abnormality in the development of a structure. May refer to a facial feature.

Hip dislocation.

Providing early support to children who are at risk of poor outcome.

Involuntary urination.

How a person uses words or non-verbal communication to express themselves.

Exhibit themselves in delinquent and aggressive behavior, or hyperactivity.

Functional Behavior Assessment.

The coordination of small muscles in movements — usually involving the synchronization of hands and fingers — with the eyes. Includes skills such as grasping and writing.

Refers to the gene and syndrome in humans.

In italics, refers to the protein, not the gene itself.

Gastrostomy tube. A tube inserted directly into the stomach that provides fluid and nutrition.

A biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, and diagnoses and manages gene disorders.

When a child takes longer to reach certain developmental milestones.

Skills that involve the whole body — your core muscles and the muscles of your arms and legs used for walking or jumping.

Inactivation of one copy of a gene.

A therapy done riding a horse. The belief is that it will not only provide enjoyment but also strengthen muscles that traditional physical therapy cannot reach.

Undesirable reactions produced by the normal immune system, including allergies and autoimmunity.

An abnormally high level of muscle tone or tension.

Hearing loss.

A condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough of certain crucial hormones.

An abnormally low level of muscle tone.

Intellectual and Developmental Disability.

Individual Education Plan.

Below average intelligence and a set of life skills present before age 18.

Anxiety and depression.

Refers to an overly large head.

The changing of the structure of a gene.

A study that follows a group of people over time, collecting health information.

A complex network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to various parts of the body.

A group of disorders that affect the development of the nervous system, leading to abnormal brain function.

A physician who deals with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions and diseases involving the central and peripheral nervous systems.

A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system.

Organic molecules consisting of a nucleoside and a phosphate, which form the base unit of DNA.

Therapy that helps people participate in the things they want and need to do — such as fine motor skills, self-care, writing, or hand-eye coordination.

A physician who deals with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye.

Occupational Therapy.

Inflammation or infection in the ear.

A tool to help create meaningful life goals and find community connections with the help of important people in your life.

Treatment of disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise rather than by drugs or surgery.

Refers to the social language skills used in daily interactions — what we say, how we say it, and our non-verbal communication.

Physical Therapy.

Relating to the lungs.

Refers to how a person understands language.

A group of activities specifically scheduled into a child’s day to assist with attention, arousal, and adaptive responses.

Speech and Language Impairment.

Speech and Language Pathologist.

Sensory Processing Disorder.

The practice of educating students in a way that addresses their individual differences and specific needs.

A specialist in the development of oral and motor skills and communication.

A condition in which the eyes are not lined up properly and they point in different directions. Also known as crossed eyes.

A number of symptoms occurring together and characterizing a specific disease.

The set of instructions that bind DNA to regulate the expression of other genes.

The part of the body to which the legs, arms, and head are attached.

The field of medicine that focuses on diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive tract.

Vision problems.

A genomic technique for sequencing all of the protein-coding regions of genes in a genome.