EARLY INTERVENTION ECED 2060

H ANDICAPPED C HILDREN ’ S E ARLY E DUCATION A SSISTANCE A CT (PL ), 1968 Purpose was to improve early intervention services for children with disabilities or who were at risk for disabilities, and their families. Experimental centers – “First Chance Network” Better early educational practices Parent involvement activities Program evaluation systems Federal $ for centers Renamed “Early Education Project for Children with Disabilities” in 1992.

H EAD S TART Open door policy – ALL children who met the economic requirement, regardless of developmental status, were included in Head Start – 10% of enrollment reserved for children with developmental disabilities, even children with “severely handicapped children.” Since Head Start began in 1965, more than 23 million children have attended. Today, more than 12.5% of children who attend have an identified disability.

E DUCATION OF THE H ANDICAPPED A MENDMENTS (PL ), 1986 Part H – discretionary legislation (now Part C) Children ages birth to 3 States may opt to provide services; not required by law to do so (1986 reauthorization) States are given grants (2004) to provide early intervention for children ages birth to 3.

P ART B OF IDEA Part B governs special education and related services for children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21.

P ART C OF IDEA Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities For children under the age of 3, with some exceptions … “urgent and substantial need … to recognize the significant brain development that occurs during a child’s first 3 years of life …” “urgent and substantial need to maximize the potential for individuals with disabilities to live independently in society …”

REQUIREMENTS FOR S TATES WHO ARE PROVIDING AN EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM (IDEA, 2004): Early intervention services based on scientific research Timely, comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation of child and family Individualized Family Service Plan Comprehensive Child Find system Public awareness program focusing on early identification Central directory that includes information on early intervention services, resources, and experts Comprehensive system of personnel development

M ORE REQUIREMENTS … Policies and procedures to ensure that personnel are adequately prepared and trained A single line of responsibility in a lead agency A policy about contracting with service providers A procedure for securing timely reimbursements of funds A system for compiling data A State interagency coordinating council Policies and procedures to ensure that: To the maximum extent possible, services are provided in natural environments; If not, the setting is most appropriate, as determined by the parents and IFSP team

E ARLY I NTERVENTION “Early intervening services” new in IDEA 2004 requires that schools use “proven methods of teaching and learning” based on “replicable research.” Provided in “natural environments, including the home, and community settings” to the maximum extent possible.

E ARLY I NTERVENTION “It is the policy of the United States to provide financial assistance to States to develop and implement a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families …” Prevention of secondary problems that may occur as a result of the primary disability.

E ARLY I NTERVENTION Developmental services that are: Provided under public supervision; Are provided at no cost except where Federal or State law provides for a system of payments by families, including a schedule of sliding fees; Are designed to meet the developmental needs of an infant or toddler with a disability, as identified by the individualized family service plan team in any 1 or more of the following areas: Physical development Cognitive development Communication development Social or emotional development Adaptive development

A T R ISK I NFANT OR T ODDLER An individual under 3 years of age who would be at risk of experiencing a substantial developmental delay if early intervention services were not provided to the individual.

I NFANT OR T ODDLER W ITH A D ISABILITY An individual under 3 years of age who needs early intervention services because the individual is experiencing developmental delays or has a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay.

D EVELOPMENTAL D ELAY Defined by each individual state … Basically, however: A delay in one or more of the following areas: Cognitive development Physical development Communication development Social and emotional development Adaptive development OR Has a diagnosed mental or physical condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay.

D EVELOPMENTAL D ELAY The term “developmental delay” is generally used for infants, toddlers, and sometimes preschoolers (up to age 5). However, it can extend to age 9. State discretion for much of this …

I NDIVIDUALIZED F AMILY S ERVICE P LAN (IFSP) Legal requirements similar to IEPs, but including a “family-directed assessment” of the family’s resources, priorities, and concerns. New requirement that the IFSP must include “measurable results or outcomes expected to be achieved … including pre-literacy and language skills” Usually only used for infants and toddlers, but may be used for preschoolers and possibly older … not commonly …

C HILD F IND Child Find requires school districts to identify, locate, and evaluate ALL children with disabilities, including children who are homeless, home schooled, wards of the state, and children who attend private schools. If the child has a disability and is eligible for special education services, the school does not have to give the child a “label” before providing services.

E ARLY I NTERVENTION S ERVICES : Family training, counseling, and home visits Special instruction

E ARLY I NTERVENTION S ERVICES : Speech-language pathology and audiology services, and sign language and cued language services Occupational therapy

E ARLY I NTERVENTION S ERVICES : Physical therapyPsychological services

E ARLY I NTERVENTION S ERVICES : Service coordination services Medical services only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes

E ARLY I NTERVENTION S ERVICES : Early identification, screening, and assessment services Health services necessary to enable the infant or toddler to benefit from the other early intervention services

E ARLY I NTERVENTION S ERVICES : Social work services Vision services

E ARLY I NTERVENTION S ERVICES : Assistive technology devices and assistive technology services Transportation and related costs that are necessary to enable an infant or toddler and their family to receive another service.

E ARLY I NTERVENTIONISTS Special educators Speech/language pathologists Audiologists Occupational therapists Physical therapists Psychologists Social workers Nurses Registered dieticians Family therapists Vision specialists, including optometrists and ophthalmologists Orientation and mobility specialists Pediatricians and other physicians

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