Parent Training and Information Today’s Agenda PTI Nebraska • Early Intervention services Early Development Network • How services are being impacted Services (EDN) During a during this time Pandemic • Federal and State guidance Presented by Connie Shockley • Resources 402-403-3911 cshockley@pti-nebraska.org 1 2 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 (EDN) • Most recent update – 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/ 3 4 Federal and State NEBRASKA REGULATIONS Pandemic Documents • Early Intervention Regulations for Nebraska Department of Health • https://www.education.ne.gov/sped/ EDN Services and Human Services • OSEP Q&A on Providing Services to Children with Coordination Disabilities During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 • Most recent update – Outbreak (March 2020) Regulations November 26, 2014 • OSEP Supplemental Fact Sheet (March 21, 2020) 480 NAC 3 • NDE Q&A for Providing Special Education and Website: Early Intervention Services https://edn.ne.gov/cms/ed • Part C/EDN COVID-19 Resources n-services-coordination- regulations-480-nac-3 5 6 1
Currently… Currently… The NDE has not waived or made any determination that IEPs/IFSPs or special education/early intervention services are ‘on hold’ or ‘suspended’ in any way and The Nebraska Department of Education districts continue to be responsible for services except (NDE) Commissioner has recommended that as determined by the OSEP/NDE Q&A. school districts move to an alternative learning environment for the remainder of the The biggest recommendation is that all communication 0219-2020 school year. and decisions be documented. **At this time, Year Round Services are still to be provided. 7 8 Open or Closed? If the School District Closes - If the offices of the state lead agency closes If the school district is closed and not providing (NDE/DHHS aka Co-Leads) then early early intervention services via alternative intervention services will not need to be methods, then MDTs and Initial, Periodic (6 provided in the state. month IFSPs) and Annual IFSPs do not need to be completed until the school district reopens. - If the Co-Leads offices are open but the regional early intervention offices are closed At reopening, the school district must follow due to public health and safety concerns, early OSEP guidance including determining if intervention services will not be provided in that compensatory services are needed. region. 9 10 If the Regional Services Coordination FEATURES OF THE EARLY Agency Closes DEVELOPMENT NETWORK (EDN) If the agency providing Services Coordination is closed and not providing early intervention services via •Local Programs alternate methods: •Family Centered Services - Ensure referrals are received •Early Intervention model - Families provided with an anticipated timeframe as •Coaching Model to when the IFSP process will begin •Primary Service Provider Model - Initial, periodic and annual IFSPs do not need to be completed until the office reopens •Parental Rights - The school district will need to determine if •Voluntary Program compensatory services are needed. 11 12 2
EARLY INTERVENTION AND THE IFSP Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) • It is both a process and a written plan. Includes resources, strengths and needs of families • Builds upon and provides supports and resources to assist family members and caregivers to enhance infant and toddlers’ learning and development through everyday learning opportunities. 13 14 REFERRALS WHO CAN MAKE A • Contact your Early REFERRAL? Development Network office • Contact your local school • Parent • Contact your child’s teacher • Doctor • Contact PTI Nebraska • Child Care Provider There should be no wrong However….parent must sign number - all contacts should consent for evaluation….. get you to the Early Development Network office in your area. 15 16 Temporary Referral Process IMPORTANT PROCEDURAL The recommendation by the Co-Leads to Services PROCESS Coordination Office: - ensures referrals are received From the date of the referral, school districts - Make phone contact with families have 45 calendar days to complete (Rule 52, - Explain that the offices are unable to provide home Section 006.02A): visits at this time • Screening - evaluation/assessment process will be initiated • Initial assessments of child/family when restrictions are lifted • Participate in an IFSP meeting - inform families of the anticipated length of time - contact families periodically to update them on timeline 17 18 3
IFSP - EVALUATION PROCESS Screening and/or a Multidisciplinary Evaluation • A screening may or may not be done to determine if there is a need for evaluation. ** • Parents can at any time before, during or after a screening request a full multidisciplinary evaluation be conducted for their child. 19 20 Evaluation and Assessment: Evaluation and Assessment: A Closer Look A Closer Look Evaluation: •includes a review of records Family Assessment: • includes 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* 21 22 Evaluation and Assessment: DISABILITY CATEGORIES A Closer Look Sharing family information related to an infant /toddler: • Autism • Multiple Impairments • Family resources, priorities, • Emotional Disturbance • Orthopedic Impairments concerns (previously Behavior • Other Health Impairment • Medical information Disorder) • Specific Learning • Strengths • Deaf-Blindness Disability • Milestones • Developmental Delay • Speech-Language • How the infant or toddler plays • Hearing Impairment Impairment and interacts with others • Intellectual Disability • Traumatic Brain Injury • Behavior with family & at day- (previously Mental • Visual Impairment care Handicap) including Blindness • Other information 23 24 4
DISABILITY CATEGORIES DISABILITY CATEGORIES AND VERIFICATION AND VERIFICATION • There are 13 disability categories a child • Services are based on each child’s individual might verify under once an evaluation has needs as identified in the evaluation or been completed. assessment process. • No disability category provides more • Verification Technical Assistance Document: services than another. This is just to indicate http://www.education.ne.gov/sped/technicala if the child qualified for services. ssist/verificationguidelines.pdf 25 26 Temporary Evaluation Process Evaluations will be initiated once the restrictions are lifted. One exception may be if a child has a diagnosed condition that qualifies them for early intervention services. However: - School district must agree and be willing to set up an interim IFSP meeting - Parents must agree to a virtual meeting 27 28 IFSP – ELIGIBILITY PROCESS IFSP - ELIGIBILITY PROCESS Parents should and can receive a copy of the MDT report prior to the meeting. (Rule 52, Section 006.10) The multidisciplinary team (MDT) determines if an • Allows parents time to go over the report and infant or toddler is eligible for services. ask questions If you wish to know more about the other verification Parents need to know and understand what the categories, please refer to Rule 52 or the Verification MDT report states and if they agree with it. Guidelines link previously listed. • Why? It is the foundation of everything that comes next (goals/services/placement) • Parents need to have accurate information to make informed decisions 29 30 5
If the evaluation is complete but there IFSP – ELIGIBILITY PROCESS hasn’t been a meeting If you as the parent disagree with the MDT evaluation or disagree with the decision on If the evaluation of the infant/toddler and eligibility, you have the right to: family assessment was completed but the initial MDT/IFSP meeting has not taken place: • Discuss with your IFSP team • Dispute Resolution (Rule 52, Sections 009.05 to 009.08) The recommendation is that the MDT/IFSP • Mediation meeting be conducted via technology if the • State Complaint parent agrees. Parental Right • Due Process 31 32 THE IFSP • Written document • Based on the evaluation • Lists services the child and family need • States how services are provided • Measurable results (Outcomes) expected 33 34 IFSP TEAM IFSP WRITTEN DOCUMENT Parent Evaluator The IFSP is a plan on how your child’s early intervention program will be carried out. Family Service • Changes with child, not written in stone members providers • Meetings (minimum): Advocate School • IFSP – every six months (annual/periodic) District • Parents or school can call an IFSP meeting as Rep Service needed coordinator Others? • All services, goals, accommodations, modifications, behavior plans, etc., must be Who participates in the initial recorded in the IFSP. and annual IFSP meeting? 35 36 6
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