Parent Training and Information You are the most important people - PDF document

YOU ARE IMPORTANT!! Parent Training and Information • You are the most important people in your child’s life PTI Nebraska • You know your child better than anyone else • You share your child’s joys and challenges Nebraska Early Intervention: the Birth to Three Individualized Family Service Plan and Parental Rights 101 Presented by Connie Shockley 402-403-3911 cshockley@pti-nebraska.org Pacer Center, Inc. YOU ARE NOT ALONE EARLY INTERVENTION AND THE LAW P.L. 94-142 EHA (1975) Early intervention services are available P.L. 99-457 EHA (1986) to any child who PART H qualifies in Nebraska to help families who P.L. 101-476 IDEA (1990) have a child with a disability. P.L. 105-17 IDEA (1997) PART C These services were brought about by efforts of parents who changed laws to make these P.L. 108-446 IDEA (2004) services available. Modified Pacer Center, Inc. NEBRASKA REGULATIONS In Nebraska, the • Early Intervention Early Intervention Regulations for program is called the Nebraska for children Early Development birth to age three Network program • Most recent update – (EDN) July 15, 2014 Overseen by: Website: • Nebraska Department of Education and https://www.education.n • Nebraska Department of Health and Human e.gov/nderule/provision- Services. of-early-intervention/ 1

NEBRASKA REGULATIONS FEATURES OF THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT NETWORK (EDN) • Early Intervention Regulations for Nebraska •Local Programs Department of Health EDN Services and Human Services •Family Centered Services Coordination •Early Intervention model • Most recent update – Regulations •Coaching Model November 26, 2014 480 NAC 3 •Primary Service Provider Model Website: •Parental Rights https://edn.ne.gov/cms/ed •Voluntary Program n-services-coordination- regulations-480-nac-3 EARLY INTERVENTION REVIEW EARLY INTERVENTION MODEL Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) • Not a medical program that ‘treats’ your • It is both a process and a written plan. child. Includes resources, strengths and needs of • Based on the family centered practice families that you are your child’s most important • Builds upon and provides supports and teacher. resources to assist family members and caregivers to enhance infant and toddlers’ • You and your EDN team will work learning and development through together to support and enhance the everyday learning opportunities. development of your child. WHY MAKE A REFERRAL? EARLY INTERVENTION MODEL, CONT. • If you have a questions about your child’s • Your team will coach you on how to development implement strategies into your child’s • If your doctor has a daily routine and in-between provider concern about your visits. child’s development • If there is a diagnosis of a disability • Your team will demonstrate and model techniques for you to use with your child . • If there is a diagnosis of a health concern 2

REFERRALS WHO CAN MAKE A • Contact your Early REFERRAL? Development Network office • Parent • Contact your local school • Contact your child’s teacher • Doctor • Contact PTI Nebraska • Child Care Provider All contacts should get you to However….early intervention the Early Development is a voluntary program and Network office in your area. parent must sign consent for evaluation….. IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL PROCESS PROCESS From the date of the referral, school districts EXCEPTION (Rule 52, Section have 45 calendar days to complete (Rule 52, 006.02B): Section 006.02A): If there is a family delay in providing • Screening consent or participating in the screening, • Initial assessments of child/family assessment and/or meeting. • Participate in an IFSP meeting Evaluation and Assessment: A Closer Look IFSP - EVALUATION PROCESS Nondiscriminatory testing: Screening and/or a Multidisciplinary • Use nondiscriminatory evaluations Evaluation • Tests in native language of • A screening may or may not be done to parents determine if there is a need for evaluation. • Procedures/materials must not discriminate • Parents can at any time before, during or after a screening, request a full • No single procedure is used to multidisciplinary evaluation be conducted for determine eligibility their child. • Evaluations/assessments are completed by qualified personnel 3

Evaluation and Assessment: Evaluation and Assessment: A Closer Look A Closer Look Evaluation includes: • a review of records Family Assessment: • evaluation of functioning • Family-directed in all areas— identification of resources, • Physical development concerns, and priorities • Communication development necessary to meet • Cognitive development developmental needs of • Social or emotional child development, and • Adaptive development • assessment of needs Evaluation and Assessment: A Closer Look DISABILITY CATEGORIES AND Sharing family information VERIFICATION related to an infant /toddler: • Family resources, priorities, concerns • There are 13 disability categories a child • Medical information might verify under once an evaluation has • Strengths been completed. • Milestones • How the infant or toddler plays and interacts with others • No disability category provides more • Behavior with family & at day- services than another. This is just to indicate care if the child qualified for services. • Other information DISABILITY CATEGORIES DISABILITY CATEGORIES AND VERIFICATION • Multiple Impairments • Autism • Orthopedic Impairments • Emotional Disturbance • Other Health Impairment • Services are based on each child’s (previously Behavior • Specific Learning individual needs as identified in the Disorder) Disability evaluation or assessment process. • Deaf-Blindness • Speech-Language • Developmental Delay Impairment • Verification Technical Assistance Document: • Hearing Impairment • Traumatic Brain Injury http://www.education.ne.gov/sped/technical • Intellectual Disability • Visual Impairment assist/verificationguidelines.pdf (previously Mental including Blindness Handicap) 4

IFSP – ELIGIBILITY PROCESS IFSP - ELIGIBILITY PROCESS The multidisciplinary team (MDT) determines if an Parents should and can receive a copy of the MDT infant or toddler is eligible for services. report prior to the meeting. (Rule 52, Section 006.10) • Allows parents time to go over the report and ask questions There are 13 verification categories a child might qualify under. We will discuss the most common Parents need to know and understand what the category for infants/toddlers: Developmental Delay. MDT report states and if they agree with it. • Why? It is the foundation of everything that If you wish to know more about the other verification comes next (goals/services/placement) categories, please refer to Rule 52 or the Verification • Parents need to have accurate information to Guidelines link previously listed. make informed decisions THE IFSP – INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY IFSP – ELIGIBILITY PROCESS SERVICE PLAN If you as the parent disagree with the MDT • Written document evaluation or disagree with the decision on • Based on the evaluation eligibility, you have the right to: • Discuss with your IFSP team • Lists services the child and family need • Dispute Resolution (Rule 52, Sections 009.05 to 009.08) • States how services are • Mediation provided Parental Right • State Complaint • Measurable results • Due Process (Outcomes) expected IFSP WRITTEN DOCUMENT IFSP TEAM Parent The IFSP is a plan on how your child’s early Evaluator intervention program will be carried out. Family Service • Changes with child, not written in stone members providers • Meetings (minimum): • IFSP – every six months (annual/periodic) Advocate School District • Parents or school can call an IFSP meeting Rep Service as needed coordinator • All services, goals, accommodations, Others? modifications, behavior plans, etc., must Who participates in the initial be recorded in the IFSP. and annual IFSP meeting? 5

SERVICES COORDINATOR SERVICES COORDINATOR A Services Coordinator assists families of children - Work with multiple with special needs below the age of three: providers to make sure services are - Find services to meet provided as needed; developmental, educational, financial, - Help parents become health care, child care, coordinators of respite care and other services for their own needs; children in the future. - Link with needed services SERVICES COORDINATOR SERVICES COORDINATOR - Assist in obtaining - Facilitate/participate in the development, access to needed review and evaluation of IFSPs services - Make referrals for needed services and - Inform parents of their rights scheduling appointments - Facilitate the development of a transition - Coordinate services plan to preschool or other services - Coordinate screenings/testing DEMOGRAPHICS INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN (IFSP) FORM • Child Name / Birthday Documents the following: • Contact - your child’s individual needs and strengths information - Your family’s concerns and priorities - Your child’s current level of development • Parents - Goals you wish to see for your child and your • Services family Coordinator - Services • Meeting - The transition plan after early intervention Dates 6