EARLY INTERVENTION

EARLY INTERVENTION

ECED 2060

HANDICAPPED CHILDREN’S EARLY EDUCATION ASSISTANCE ACT (PL 90-538), 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.

HEAD START Open door policy – ALL children who

met the economic requirement, regardless of developmental status, were included in Head Start.

1972 – 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.

EDUCATION OF THE HANDICAPPED AMENDMENTS (PL 99-457), 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.

PART B OF IDEA Part B governs special education and related

services for children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21.

PART 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 STATES 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

MORE 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

EARLY INTERVENTION

“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.

EARLY INTERVENTION “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.

EARLY INTERVENTION

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

AT RISK INFANT OR TODDLER 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.

INFANT OR TODDLER WITH A DISABILITY

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.

DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY 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.

DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY 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 …

INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN (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 …

CHILD FIND 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.

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES:Family training,

counseling, and home visits

Special instruction

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES:

Speech-language pathology and audiology services, and sign language and cued language services

Occupational therapy

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES:Physical

therapyPsychological

services

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES:Service

coordination services

Medical services only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES:Early

identification, screening, and assessment services

Health services necessary to enable the infant or toddler to benefit from the other early intervention services

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES:Social work

servicesVision services

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES: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.

EARLY INTERVENTIONISTS 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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