The Handicapped Infants and Toddlers
Program was set up in 1986 by
Public Law 99-457, Part H. It offers federal money to any state
that will establish a system of early intervention services to
children with special needs, age 0-2, and their families. The
intent of early intervention is to identify and treat certain
conditions or needs early, and thereby lessen or prevent the effects.
Part H regulations set out specific guidelines a state must follow
in order to receive the federal funds. Each program must be designed
to include:
1. A focus on the family
This represents a significant shift in philosophy from past service
delivery systems. Part H recognizes that every family has resources
and skills of its own and considers these in the process of early
intervention. A family is offered support and education; its strengths
and needs are used to determine, write, and implement the Individualized
Family Service Plan, the IFSP. It is the written document of goals
and objectives spelling out the program of services and therapies.
2. A multi-disciplinary assessment
The IFSP must be based on results from a number of formal tests,
observations, and interviews gathered by family and professionals
from different disciplines, i.e. medical doctors, speech pathologists,
psychologists, etc. The child's present level of performance (what
he/she can do, as well as weaknesses) is considered.
3. Comprehensive services provided by
qualified personnel
The state must have available a full range of services, including
medical and social work and parent education. Related services
are those that support the direct services; they include, but
are not limited to: transportation, physical and occupational
therapies, counseling, speech and language, recreation, and audiology.
4. Interagency cooperation, with public
monitoring
Different state and private agencies may share responsibility
for the funding and providing of services, but they will be coordinated
by one state department.
5. Procedural safeguards
Parents and their children will have certain rights regarding
their involvement with the early intervention system. Although
each state may add to what the federal law requires, these three
parental rights must be included:
-the right to give or deny consent at any step in the process;
-the right to confidentiality of all information regarding their
family;
-the right to challenge and appeal any decisions made during the
process.
6. FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public
Education)
The sum of therapies and services designed for each family and
child constitute the free and appropriate public education guaranteed
by Part H to every child with special needs who is under five
years of age.* In order to be considered "appropriate",
the program must conform to all of the above (#1-#5) and place
the child in the "least restrictive environment"(LRE).
This is the setting where the child can best benefit from the
services and, at the same time, be included with children without
disabilities as much as possible.
*Early intervention services for children under three in Maine include evaluation, the Individualized Family Service Plan, and case management. For children three to five, FAPE services include evaluation, the IFSP, case management, and any needed therapy.
Early intervention services are those offered
to children with special needs from birth through age two. If
a condition or need that may affect a child's development is found
and treated early, the effects may be lessened or prevented. When
a child is identified with a disability or is deemed to be at
risk of a developmental delay, a program of therapies/strategies
is then designed. The federal law called the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, covers special education
for children of all ages and guarantees rights to children with
special needs who are under five.
Each state writes its own policies to carry out the federal law. Maine has chosen to directly fund only the special education services for 3-5 year olds, but help is available to children from birth through two, also.
If I think my child has a disability,
what should I do first?
If your child was not identified at birth with a disability, and
a physician or nurse is not aware of your concern, you could start
by discussing it with one of them. Or you can call Child Development
Services, the agency that is in charge of Childfind in Maine.
What should I say to them?
Tell them you think your child may need early intervention services
and ask how to go about getting an assessment done. Start and
keep a file of names and phone numbers of people you talk to,
and write down all the information they give you. If there's anything
you don't understand, ask for explanations.
What is an assessment? Who will do it?
Will I have to pay?
Evaluations and assessments are ways of gathering information
about your child to decide if he or she needs early intervention
services. A team of professionals will conduct the evaluation
by talking with you, looking at medical records, and examining
and observing your child. Then everyone will get together to discuss
the results. You might be asked to use your insurance or Medicaid
to pay for the evaluation, but you are not required to do that.
What makes a child eligible for services?
For children under two, eligibility is defined in one of the following
ways:
* Certain specific conditions, like Down Syndrome and spina bifida,
will mean a child qualifies for early intervention services.
* Prematurity or complications at birth may indicate risk of developmental
delay and may qualify a child for services.
* If the assessment/evaluation results show a delay in one or
more area of development, a child may qualify.
Who will pay for the services if my child
is found eligible?
Your case manager, assigned to you by the state, will help you
find funding for the early intervention services decided on for
your child. Your private insurance, Children's Services, Medicaid,
and Social Security Income are some of the possible sources.
Who can I call if I have more questions?
Your case manager will help you find answers to most questions
you have, but some other sources of information are:
Maine Parent Federation - 1-800-870-7746 or (207)623-2144
Children's Services - 287-4250
Coordinated Care Services - 1-800-698-3624 ext. 7-5139 or 287-5139
What should I do if they find my child ineligible, but I still
have concerns?
The first step will be to write a request for a review. There
may be time limits, so check with your case manager for more details.
If you disagree with the result of the review, you may ask for
an appeals hearing. In any letter you write to file a complaint,
always include the reason for the complaint, all facts about it,
and the results of any previous complaints you've made.
For more information on this or other topics related to the needs of children with disabilities, call or write Maine Parent Federation, P.O. Box 2067, Augusta, Maine 04338, 1-800-870-7746 (In-State Only), 207-623-2144, or e-mail MPF at parentconnect@mpf.org.
This fact sheet is paid for through grants from the Federal Department of Education and the State of Maine Department of Education, utilizing funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Rev 1/02