| Acronym | Meaning | What is it? |
|---|---|---|
| AAC | Augmentative and Alternative Communication | A broad term encompassing various methods used to supplement or replace speech, and can include things like gestures, sign language, or communication devices |
| ACC | Accident Compensation Corporation | The Accident Compensation Corporation is the New Zealand Crown entity responsible for administering the country’s no-fault accidental injury compensation scheme, commonly referred to as the ACC scheme |
| ADHB | Auckland District Health Board (now part of TWO) | No longer applicable. Refer to Health New Zealand or Te Whatu Ora |
| ASD | Autistic Spectrum Disorder | A way of experiencing and understanding the world that can affect how a person communicates, relates to others, and processes sensory information. Autistic people have different strengths and support needs and every person is unique |
| AT | Assistive Technology | Tools, equipment or devices that support people to do everyday tasks, increase independence, and improve participation in daily life. |
| BT | Beginning Teacher | A teacher in the early stage of their career, who is building skills and gaining experience with professional support and mentoring |
| C A B | Citizen Advice Bureau | A free, confidential service that provides practical information and guidance to help people understand their rights, access services and solve everyday problems. |
| CDA | Child disability allowance | A weekly payment from Work and Income to help support families caring for a child or young person with a disability – (criteria apply), recognising the extra care and supervision needed |
| CiCL | Choice in Community Living | A DSS (Disability Support Service) that supports disabled people who would otherwise need residential care to live more independently in a home of their choice with flexible, person-directed support |
| CSC | Community Services Card | A government card issued by Work and Income (MSD) that helps people on low incomes or with high health needs pay less for healthcare and some services and activities in the community – swimming and movies – conditions apply |
| CSW | Community Support Worker | A worker who provides practical and personal support to help people with health or disability needs live more independently, take part in their community and manage everyday activities such as personal care, home tasks, or social participation. |
| CS | Carer Support | |
| DA | Disability Allowance | A weekly payment from Work and Income to help cover extra ongoing costs related to a disability or long term health condition, such as medical fees, some suppliments, exercise, transport or power costs |
| DD | Developmental Delay | A delay in a child’s development where they take longer than expected to reach skills such as walking, talking, or social interaction. Delays can affect on or more areas of development and may be temporary or ongoing |
| DIAS | Disability Information Advisory Service | A free service that provides information and guidence to help people understand disability supports and services.Disability Connect has support groups, fornightly newsletter and offers a range of workshops and seminars. |
| DS | Disability Services | Supports and services that help disabled people and their families with daily life, care and participation. |
| EGL | Enabling Good Lives | A person driven approach that supports disabled people to have choice and control over their lives, build on their natural strengths, and access flexibility supports that help them live the life they want |
| EIF | Enhanced individual funding | A flexible funding option that gives disabled people more choice and control over how their support funding is used to meet their goals and everyday life. (EIF is region specific and is not available in Auckland) |
| EMS | Equipment Modification Services | A service funded by Disability Support Services (DSS), on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development, and delivered nationally through providers such as Enable New Zealand and Accessable. Equipment Modification Services (EMS) assesses, supplies, and installs equipment or home modifications to support people with disabilities to live safely and independently, such as ramps, bathroom modifications, or mobility equipment. Your GP/Doctor/Hospital/communtiy Therapy service can make a referral for an assessment, this is usually done by an Occupational Therapist (O.T), Physio or Speach Language Therapist (SLT). |
| EPA | Enduring power of attorney | A legal document where a person gives permission for another to make decisions on their behalf if they cannot do so themselves |
| ERO | Education review Office | A government office that reviews and reports on how well schools and education services are doing. |
| GDD | Global Developmental Delay | A diagnosis given to children 0 – 8 yrs but can extend to 18, across serveral areas of the developmental stages. The expectation is that the child/young person will meet developmental levels with support. |
| H&DC/HDC | Health and Disability Commissioner | The HDC promotes and protects the rights of people who use health and disabiltiy services in New Zealand. It provides information,education, and help resolve complaints in a fair, timely, and effective way. |
| H&DA | Health and Disability Advisory | Supports people to resolve problems with their health and disability care. H&DA supports people to use the Code of Rights to sort out the problems they are having by building confidence and sharing information and ideas. |
| HHM/HM | Household or Home Management | Support allocated by NASC (Needs Assessment Service Coordination) or TWO (Te Whatu Ora), to manage a home and daily household tasks |
| HR | Human Resources | The part of a workplace that supports staff and employment matters |
| IBT | In Between Travel | Paid time for workers when travelling between clients or jobs |
| ID | Intellectual Disability | A life long condition affecting learning and everyday skills. A formal diagnosis is required. A diagnosis of an Intellectual Disability is needed to access residential care. |
| IEP | Individual Education Plan | A written plan that outlines learning goals and support for a student with additional needs. |
| IF | Individualised Funding | Funding that gives people more say in how their disability supports are organised and used. Funding is allocated after a Needs Assessment and if necessary can be managed by another per if individual is unable or chooses not to. |
| IP | Individual Plan | A plan that outlines a person’s goals and the support they need |
| KO | Kainga Ora | New Zealand’s public housing provider, offering affordable homes for individuals and families.s. Can apply through Work and Income, criteria apply. |
| MOE | Ministry of Education | The government department responsible for schools, early learning, and education policy. |
| MOH | Ministry of Health | The government department responsible for New Zealand’s health system and health policies. |
| MSD | Ministry of Social Development | The government department that provides income support, housing help, and social services including disability. |
| NASC | Needs Assessment Service Coordination | A service that assesses support needs and helps arrange appropriate disability services. Each region in New Zealand has its own NASC. A person can self-refer. Criteria apply. |
| NFP | Not for Profit | An organisation that focuses on helping people or communities rather than making money. |
| NGO | Non Government Organization | An organisation independent of government, that provides services or advocacy, often in the community or charity sector. |
| NHI | National Health Index (number) | A unique number given to every person who uses health or disability serices in New Zealand |
| OCD | Obsessive compulsive disorder | A mental health condition characterised by ongoing worries and repeated thoughts or behaviours. |
| ORS | Ongoing Resource Scheme | ORS is a package of support for students who have the highest need for learning support. ORS helps them to participate in schooling alongside other students.ORS is linked to the student until they leave the school system (see VHN) Students with ORS funding can stay at school until 21. |
| OT | Oranga Tamariki | The government agency that leads New Zealands efforts to protect children and young people. Oranga Tamariki is is responsible for the well-being of children, specifically children at risk of harn, youth offenders and children of the state. Early intervention by OT and supporting services work to keep families together. |
| OT | Occupational Therapist | A health professional who helps people develop skills for daily activities and overcome barries preventing individuals from doing activites that mater to then. These services are available in the hospital and community. |
| PC | Personal cares | Personal cares is an allocation of funding to support with personal daily tasks such as showering, washing, dressing and toileting. |
| PDDNOS | Pervasive Developmental Delay – Non Origin Specific | PDD-NOS is an old diagnosis used to describe a person who had some but not all features of autism. The term PDD-NOS folded into the single diagnosis of Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) which reflects the wide range of characteristics and severities of Autism in 2013 with the publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual. |
| PHO | Primary Health Organisation | PHOs are made up of a number of primary care practices which work together to care for patients who are registered with them. PHOs are given money by the Ministry of Health to subsidise healthcare for their enrolled patients. This pays for care and treatment when people are ill, helping people stay healthy and initiatives to contact groups in the community with poor health who would otherwise people about the services they want. |
| PT | Physiotherapist | Physiotherapists are health professionals with a university degree. Physiotherapists help you improve movement and funtion lost from an injury, illness or long-term health/disability condition. They can lodge ACC claim and make referrals to specialists to look at specific issues |
| RFI | Request for information | A request for information is a formal way to get details from a public body like a school, hospital or NASC. You can ask for access to reasons for decisions made about you, internal policies, principles, rules or guidelines, meeting agendas and minutes of public bodies, including those not open to the public. |
| SES | Special Education Services | Also known as learning support. Funding, services (therapists) and support to educate chilren with disabilities, illness, behaviour issues and other needs. This support can take place in mainstream and specialist schools. |
| SIL | Supported Independent Living | Support that helps people live as independently as possible, often in their own home with some support. Available to people aged 17 and above – criteria apply. |
| SLD | Specific Learning Disability | Specific learning disabilities [SLD] is a general term used to describe a range of unexpected learning difficulties that are significantly interfering with an individual’s academic or work performance or other activities of daily life. People with SLD may struggle with listening, thinking, speaking, reading, hand-writing, written language, spelling and/or maths. |
| SLP/SLPC | Supported Living Payment/ Supported Living Payment Carers | Supported Living Payment/ Supported Living Payment Carer is a weekly payment to help you if you have, or are caring for someone with, a significant health condition, injury or disability.Application for this is from age 16 and subject to qualifying criteria |
| SLT | Speech Language Therapist | A therapist who supports communication, speech, language, and swallowing. |
| TWO | Te Whatu Ora | The primary publicly funded healthcare system in New Zealand, established on 1 July 2022 to replace the countries 20 district health boards and consolidate healthcare services under a single national organsiation. |
| WDHB | Waitemata District Health Board | The former health board for the Waitematā region, now part of Health New Zealand. |
| VHN | Very High Needs | An assessment of VHN is made at school under the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS) Unlike ORS VHN stays with the student post school and provides funding to support participation and inclusion in the community. |
