Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV): The official system for classification of psychological and psychiatric disorders prepared by and published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Developmental, Individual Differences, Relationship-based (DIR): A comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach that focuses on the emotional development of the child. It takes into account the child’s feelings, relationships with caregivers, developmental level and individual differences in a child’s ability to process and respond to sensory information.

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI): A fairly generic term for applied behavioral analysis (ABA-based) interventions, the focus is on very young children with autism, usually younger than five, and often younger than three. The intensity of intervention is significant in number of hours and in the ratio of child to instructor.

Echolalia: Repeating words or phrases heard previously. The echoing may occur immediately after hearing the word or phrase, or much later. Delayed echolalia can occur days or weeks after hearing the word or phrase.

High Functioning Autism: Individuals with autism who do not have a co-occurring cognitive disability are called ‘high functioning.

Individualized Educational Program (IEP): A program that identifies the student’s specific learning expectations and outlines how the school will address these expectations through appropriate special education programs and services. It also identifies the methods by which the student’s progress will be reviewed. For students 14 years or older, it must also contain a program for the transition to postsecondary education, or workplace, or to help the student live as independently as possible.