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:
Speech-language pathology and audiology services, and sign language and cued language services
Occupational therapy
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: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