Admission,
review and Dismissal (ARD) - a meeting with the public school system
when the IEP is written.
Advisory
Committee -A group of parents and professionals who give direction
to the ECI program.
Advocate
- someone who supports or defends your child's interests and rights.
Assessment
- ongoing tests used to identify your child's needs and strengths; your
family's concerns, priorities, and resources; and the type and range of
services needed.
Child Find
-identifying children who might be eligible for ECI services.
Eligibility
- requirements your child must meet to receive early intervention services
from a Texas ECI program.
Evaluation
- determining your child's eligibility by gathering information about your
child to see how he or she performs certain tasks.
Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - the federal legislation permitting
all states to apply for funding to plan and implement early intervention
programs.
Individualized Education
Plan (IEP) - the plan for services in public school education programs
that children with disabilities may enter when they reach age 3.
Individualized Family
Service Plan (IFSP) - is a written plan for your child's and family's
services in your ECI program. The plan is developed by an interdisciplinary
team, of which you are a part.
IFSP Team
- the team includes at least two professionals from different backgrounds,
such as speech therapy or education, who share knowledge of their special
areas. They work with you to help plan services for your child and
family. The team also includes you, your child's service coordinator,
other family members and/or advocates.
Intake and Screening
- when someone from your ECI program meets you and your child and you learn
more about ECI and talk about what your child might need.
Intervention
Services -activities ECI staff help families do, so that their children
can make progress developmentally.
Natural Environments
- the places where your child lives, learns and plays.
Outcomes
- statements of changes you desire for your child and family. The
IFSP team determines these outcomes and uses them in the IFSP.
Referral to ECI
- when you discover your child may need ECI services and you are told about
ECI or make contact with ECI yourself. Your child should be referred
to an ECI program as soon as a developmental delay is determined or a condition
that is likely to result in delay is identified.
Respite Services
-temporary relief for parents; ECI has limited funds to provide this support
to families in the form of reimbursement to temporary care providers selected
by the parents.
Service
Coordination - helping your child and family get services, providing
information about ECI services and finding other services in the community.
Strategies
- the methods and activities developed to achieve outcomes. Strategies
are included in the IFSP.
The Texas Education
Agency (TEA) - the state agency that oversees the Texas public school
system.
Transition
- when your child enters or leaves a local ECI program. All children
must leave ECI by age 3, or when no longer eligible.
