AA - African American child

AI - American Indian child

ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder

ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This mental illness is characterized by an inability to stay on track/focused. It must impact a child or adult's life in at least two areas; school, home life, church, sports, etc... And it must consistently happen. People with ADHD can also hyperfocus. For example, they seem hypnotized by the television.

Adoptee - This is a person who has been adopted.

Adopter - This term appears to be used more in Europe and Australia. This is a person who adopted a child.

AIDS - Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AP - Adoptive parent

ARND - Alcohol Related Neurodevelopment Disorder

AS - Angelman Syndrome

AS - Asperger Syndrome

ASD - autism spectrum disorder

ASL - American Sign Language

Birthmom, Birth mom, Bmom - All females who give birth to a child are birthmoms. This phrase is  used as a label for a women who placed a child for adoption.

Birth parent - Some people object to this term because it is too clinical and ignores the emotional relationship between mother and child. Therefore they may prefer "first mom".

BF - Birth Father or Biological Father

BM - This term may be used on email lists. It stands for birth mom or bio-mom. This is an insulting abbreviation to use since BM can also mean bowel movement.

BR - Biracial

BSD - Broad Spectrum Disorder

CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocate

CC - Caucasian Child

CF - Cystic Fibrosis

CP - Cerebral Palsy

DD - darling daughter

DH - darling husband

DHS - Department of Human Services

Dossier - This is collection of documents which prove the fitness of the adoptive parent. Typically this term is used with intercountry adoptions.

DS - darling son

DS - Down Syndrome

DW - darling wife

Dyslexia - a neurologically-based issue that impacts the processing of language. Sometimes it will also be called phonic blindness. The inability to heard and create rhymes is one symptom that can be seen in 4 and 5 year old children. The definition of dyslexia has been expanded to include all difficulties in receptive and expressive language. A child with dyslexia may have problems with verbal communication, handwriting, reading, writing, spelling, and math.

ESL - English as a second language is provided by school systems for children who don't speak English at home.

FAE - Fetal Alcohol Effect

FAS - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

FASD - Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Finalization Hearing - – This is the court hearing where the adoption is completed

G-Tube - gastronomy tube

GAL - Guardian ad litem

GD - Global Disorder

Genetic Bewilderment - The phrase was first used in the 1960s and was used for adoptees. But it has been used for children created via sperm donation and/or egg donation. The phrase seems to mean... I don't feel like I fit into this family. Related link: Conceive Unnaturally - Genetic Bewilderment

GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease or acid reflux disease

HEP +/- - Whether the child or Birth Mother has the Hepatitis Virus or not

HIV - Human immunodeficiency virus

Home Study, HS - This is a study of the potential adoptive family's home environment. It explores all aspects of the family; social, financial, physical and emotional. The person who completes the home study is accredited under state law. This  person could be a private social worker or an adoption agency employee.

IBP - Individual Behavior Plan

ICAMA - Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance

ICPC - Interstate Compact for Placement of Children comes into play when a child crosses state lines for adoption. Both the giving and receive state must approve the child's move and adoption.

ICWA - Indian Child Welfare Act

IEP - Special needs children can receive an individual education plan via the public school system. This plan is created by a team which includes school employees and parents.

IEP - Interethnic Placement provisions

INS - Acronym for U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service

IR3/IR4 - These are U.S. visa types that adopted children entry the country with. Any child with an IR3 will need to be adopted in a U.S. court to receive American citizenship. Children with the IR4 may receive American citizenship when they step on U.S. soil.

LD - Learning disabled

LDS - Latter Day Saints

LTP - Long Term Partner

MD - Muscular Dystrophy

MEPA - Acronym for Multi-Ethnic Placement Act of 1994

MR - Mentally Retarded

Natural parents -The United States foster care system uses this label to describe the biological parents of a foster child.

NB - New Born

OCD - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

ODD - Oppositional Defiant Disorder is in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The defiance, noncompliance, arguments, hostility goes behind what is normal for the child's developmental phase. It must last at least 6 months.

OI - Osteogenesis Imperfecta

OT - Occupational Therapy

PAD - Passive Aggressive Disorder

PAP - Potential or prospective Adoptive Parents

PDD - Pervasive Development Disorder

PECS - Picture Exchange Communication System

PT - Physical Therapy

PTSD - Post traumatic stress Disorder

RAD - Reactive Attachment Disorder

SCID - Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease

SID, SPD (Sensory Integration Disorder , Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Sensory Processing Disorder) - In a nut shell, the body and brain aren't in sync. The child may over or under react to stimulation. A quiet song may sound very loud to the child who responds by covering their ears. A child may be bleeding profusely from their skinned knee and not displaying signs of pain. This issue typically is found in children with other issues like autism, ADHD and post-institutionalization. Occupational therapists can work a child to develop sensory diets and coping skills.

SN - Special Needs

SSI - Supplemental Security Income

ST - Speech Therapy

TB - Tuberculosis

Therapeutic Foster Home - Foster parents receive additional training and close supervision to help heal a child. Typically these children have serious emotional issues.

Title IVe Eligible - Qualified Special Needs Child eligible for Adoption Support Subsidy

TPR - Termination of Parental Rights

Waiting children - These children are typically older and have special needs. This term is mostly used with foster care children who are legally available for adoption.

504c - Individual School Plan based on Medical Diagnosis

Because some abbreviations are the same you will need to consider the context in which the abbreviation is used.