| 25 July 2009
[A] - [B] - [C] - [D] - [E] - [F] - [G] - [H] - [I] - [J] - [K] - [L] - [M]
[N] - [O] - [P] - [Q] - [R] - [S] - [T] - [U] - [V] - [W] - [X] - [Y] - [Z]
ABA - Applied Behavioral Analysis (see our section on Autism Services)
Adaptive - self-help skills that a child uses for daily living (eg. feeding, toileting, dressing)
Advocacy - the act of assisting or defending a child's interests and rights
Assessment - the initial and ongoing procedure used to identify:
- a child's unique needs and strengths
- a family's resources, priorities and concerns relative to that child's development
- the nature and extent of services that are required by the child and the child's family to address the needs identified in the evaluation process
Assistive Technology Devices and Services - equipment and services that are used to maintain or improve the abilities of a child to partake in such activities as playing, communicating, eating or moving
At Risk - an expression used for children who may, in the future, have problems with development that may affect their learning
Audiology - detection of hearing impairments and the provision of services for hearing loss and the prevention of hearing loss
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Cognitive - describes the process used for remembering, reasoning, understanding, and decision-making
Confidentiality - the privilege that personal information about a child and family is not released without parental consent or only when permitted or as required by law
Consent - approval that a parent gives to a program or the county, generally in writing. Consent is always voluntary and a parent has the right to revoke consent at any given moment.
COTA - Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant
Counseling - advice or assistance given by someone qualified to give such advice (eg. a psychologist or social worker)
CPSE - Committee on Preschool Special Education
CSE - Committee on Special Education
CSW - Certified Social Worker
Development(al) - concerning the steps or stages in the growth of a child
Developmental Delay - expression that describes a child who is behind in at least one area of development, including
- Physical - demonstrating growth, gross and fine motor abilities
- Cognitive - learning and thinking
- Communicative - understanding and using words
- Social - Emotional - relating to others
- Adaptive - using self-help skills such as feeding
Developmental History - the developmental progress of a child in such skills as sitting, walking or talking
Developmental Tests - assessment that will indicate if a child has not realized the expected level of development based on his or her age group
Disability - diagnosis of a physical or mental condition that often leads to problems in a child's development
Dominant Language - the language or other means of communication that the family normally uses
Due Process - procedures designed to safeguard a person's rights. This includes requirements for confidentiality, consent and processes to resolve disagreements and file complaints.
Early Intervention Official Designee (EIOD) - the person appointed by the county or New York City to be responsible for the Early Intervention Program in that county
Early Intervention Services - services provided by qualified professionals that meet the needs of the child and family as described in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). These services are provided with parental consent and to the maximum extent possible in the child's natural environment.
EIP - Early Intervention Program
Eligibility Requirements - requirements that a child must meet in order to receive services. This will include the age of the child and whether or not the child has a disability or developmental delay.
Evaluation - process used to determine if a child meets the eligibility requirements for services.
Family Assessment - process used to identify and collect information related to the family concerns, priorities and resources
Family Concerns - areas that the parent identifies as needs, issues or problems which they wish to have addressed within the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or the Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Family Priorities - areas which the parent selects as essential targets for services to be delivered to their child and family unit
Family Training - services provided by qualified professionals to assist the family in understanding the special needs of the child and in promoting the child's development
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Home Visits - visits in your home by a professional for the
objective of planning and providing services
Impartial Hearing - formal process by which a family's complaints can be heard by a hearing officer who will resolve the dispute or complaint regarding the child's evaluation, educational plan or certain other issues
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) - strategy for a child's special education services that the parent and a Committee on (Preschool) Special Education will develop if the child qualifies for these services
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) - written plan for the child and family's services in the Early Intervention Program that the family develops in conjunction with a team of qualified professionals and the Early Intervention Official
Interim Individualized Family Service Plan - when the child and/or family are in urgent need of early intervention services, a temporary Individualized Family Service Plan can be developed to allow the child to receive early intervention services after the child has been referred to the program, but before an evaluation is complete.
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LRE - Least Restrictive Environment (see Natural Environment)
Mediation - method for resolving an argument that uses persons trained in helping people solve their own problems. The parent and officials attempt to reach an agreement in which both parties are satisfied.
Multidisciplinary - involvement of two or more professionals from different areas of training for the purposes of providing services. These services may include evaluation, assessment and the development of the educational plan.
Natural Environment - settings that are natural or normal for young children without disabilities. These settings may include home, a childcare setting or other community settings in which children participate.
NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Nursing Services - assessment of health status of a child for the purpose of providing nursing care for the prevention of health problems, restoration and improvement of functionality, and the promotion of optimal health and development. Services may include administering medications, treatments and other procedures prescribed by a licensed physician.
Nutritional Services - services that help address the nutritional needs of children, including the identification of feeding skills / problems, food habits and food preferences.
Occupational Therapy - services associated with self-help skills, adaptive behavior and play and sensory, motor and postural development
OT - Occupational Therapist
Outcomes - statements of changes that parents wish to see in their child or family. These statements are a part of the Individualized Family Service Plan and the Individualized Education Plan.
Parent - a parent or person in parental relationship to a child or a selected surrogate parent
PDD - Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Pendency - the right of the parent and child that allows the child and family to continue to receive services contained in an existing educational plan while a disagreement is being resolved or when a child and family have moved to another country
Personally Identifiable Information - family names, social security numbers, addresses and other data that could be used to identify the family
Physical Therapy - services to prevent or reduce movement difficulties and related functional problems
Placement - the site where services are provided to the child, which if possible should be in the child's natural environment
Psychological Services - administering and analyzing psychological tests and information about a child's behavior and family conditions related to learning, social and emotional development as well as planning services including counseling,
consultation, parent training and education programs
PT - Physical Therapist
PTA - Physical Therapist Assistant
Qualified Personnel - individuals who are permitted to provide educational and/or therapeutic services within the limits of their licensure, certification or registration.
Respite - temporary childcare that may be accessible to families of children with disabilities. This may include care provided in the home or at another place.
Screening - process used to measure the child's developmental status to indicate what type of evaluation, if any, is warranted.
SEIT - Special Education Itinerant Teacher
Service Coordinator - a person who works in partnership with the family to provide support and services that help the family to coordinate and obtain their rights under the Early Intervention Program and services agreed upon on in the Individualized Family Service Plan
Service Model Options - services may be provided to a child and family such as individual home and community-based visits, facility-based individual visits, parent-child groups, developmental groups or parent training
SNAP - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Social Work Services - family-directed services including counseling, parent training and support
SLP - Speech and Language Pathologists
Special Education / Instruction - designing learning environments and activities that promote the child's development, providing families with information, skills and
support to boost the child's development
Special Needs - a phrase used to describe a child who has a disability or developmental delay and is eligible for special services
Speech Language Pathology - services for children with delays in communication skills or with oral motor difficulties
Surrogate Parent - a person who is appointed to act in place of a parent when parents are not available to participate in making decisions about their child's participation in the Early Intervention or Committee on Preschool Special Education
programs. A parent may voluntarily appoint a surrogate parent.
Transition - process to help children, approximately age 3, transition out of Early Intervention by determining needs for education planning at the preschool level
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Vision Services - detection of visual disorders or delays and
providing services and training to those affected
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