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Glossary of Terms

This glossary is provided to acquaint the reader with terminology which may not be familiar. Many communities find that it is helpful to have a glossary in their interagency agreement.

Early Intervention. Services for disabled infants and toddlers (birth through two years of age) and their families. Early intervention services may include, but are not limited to the following: special instruction for the child, service coordination, family counseling and/or training, social work services, health services, medical services, audiology, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Early intervention services are funded under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Children are eligible for early intervention services if they exhibit developmental delays or have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delays in the following areas: cognitive skills, social/emotional skills, adaptive behavior, communication skills, physical skills. Early intervention services are frequently delivered in the home.

Eligible. Child meets certain requirements to qualify for services.

IDEA. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Formerly known as Public Law 94-142, Education of the Handicapped Act. IDEA is a federal law that guarantees the delivery of special education services to all students with disabilities ages 3 through 21. The provisions of IDEA stipulate that each student receive the following: 1) free appropriate education, 2) an education in the least restrictive environment, 3) related services, 4) fair assessment.

Individualized Education Program. A written educational plan for a student receiving special education services. The provisions of IDEA require that every child with a disability has his or her own IEP which includes statements of present level of functioning, annual goals, short term instructional objectives, specific educational services needed, dates of service, participation in regular education programs, and procedures for evaluating the child's progress on the IEP. The IEP must be signed by the child's parents/legal guardians and the educational personnel working with the child.

Individualized Family Service Plan. A written plan for each infant and toddler receiving early intervention services. Public Law 99-457 requires that all children receiving early intervention services have an IFSP. In addition to containing goals and objectives for the child, the IFSP includes a statement about the family's strengths and needs related to the child's development. The IFSP must be amended 90 days prior to the child's third birthday (180 days in some states such as Illinois) to include goals and objectives related to transition.

Inclusion. The practice of including children with disabilities in settings/activities that are appropriate for their non-disabled peers.

Informed consent. Informed consent means that parents/guardians have the opportunity to review the information that will be provided to the receiving agency and consent to its release. Parents must sign an informed consent form before any information is released. Informed consent must be in the parents' first language.

Least restrictive environment (LRE). An eligible child's LRE requirement may be met in three ways: (1) Participation at least part of the time in Head Start or another public agency serving preschool children; (2) Placement in a private setting that may or may not enroll additional children with disabilities; (3) Locating segregated classes for eligible children in regular elementary schools.

Local Education Agency (LEA). School district that is responsible for providing special education services to students with disabilities.

Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LIC). Public Law 99-457 mandates interagency collaboration at the state and federal level. In many communities, local interagency councils have been established to assist in implementing Part H legislation. Councils are typically made up of representatives from various agencies in the community who provide services to disabled infants and toddlers and their families.

Multidisciplinary Conference (MDC). Federal law requires that eligibility for special education services be determined in a meeting that includes professionals from two or more disciplines who have assessed the child's development, the parents/guardians of the prospective student, and anyone else whom the parents would like to invite. Referred to in the IDEA as the multidisciplinary conference (MDC), this meeting is colloquially known in various states and communities as a "staffing," a "case conference," or a "core evaluation."

Part B. That part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that provides for services for disabled children and youth from age 3 through age 21.

Part H. That part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that provides early intervention services for disabled infants and toddlers and their families.

Placement. The site where a child receives special education services. Schools are required to provide a continuum of placement options. For a preschooler with special needs, these options may include a community program such as Head Start, a private child care or nursery school, or a segregated early childhood special education classroom. Decisions regarding placement are made at IEP meetings.

Public Law 99-457. Federal law passed in 1986 that extended special education services to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities. P.L. 99-457 was reauthorized in 1991 and is now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Referral. A formal request to test a child to determine if he or she is in need of special education services. Referrals must be performed by a multidisciplinary team.

Receiving agency. Agency/program that "receives" a child after he or she exits early intervention services. In many instances this will be a program run by the public school. However, a community based preschool or child care may also be potential receiving agency.

Sending agency. Early intervention program. Also known as the referring agency.

Transition. A change from one environment or service delivery model to another (e.g., leaving early intervention services and entering preschool); moving from one activity in a classroom to another.