The following words and phrases used in this chapter have the following respective meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) COUNCIL. The Interagency Coordinating Council as established in Section 21-3A-4.
(2) EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. Any developmental services that:
a. Are provided under public supervision.
b. Are designed to meet the developmental needs of each eligible child and the needs of the family related to enhancing the development of the child.
c. Are selected in collaboration with the parents.
d. Are provided by qualified personnel as determined by the personnel standards of the state, the standards of the early intervention program, and the regulations.
e. Are provided in conformity with an individualized family service plan.
f. Meet the requirements of Public Law 99-457 as amended (20 U.S.C. §§1471 to 1485, inclusive), and the early intervention standards of the State of Alabama.
g. Are provided, to the extent appropriate, in the types of settings in which infants and toddlers without disabilities would participate.
h. Include, but are not limited to, the following services:
1. Assistive Technology Devices and Assistive Technology Services.
2. Audiology.
3. Family Training, Counseling, and Home Visits.
4. Health Services.
5. Medical Services Only for Diagnostic or Evaluation Purposes.
6. Nursing Services.
7. Nutrition Services.
8. Occupational Therapy.
9. Physical Therapy.
10. Psychological Services.
11. Service Coordination Services.
12. Social Work Services.
13. Special Instruction.
14. Speech-Language Pathology.
15. Transportation and related costs that are necessary to enable an infant or toddler, and the family of the infant or toddler to receive early intervention services.
16. Vision Services.
(3) EARLY INTERVENTION SYSTEM. The total effort in the state that is directed at meeting the needs of eligible infants and toddlers and their families.
(4) ELIGIBLE INFANTS AND TODDLERS. Individuals, from birth through age two, inclusive, who need early intervention services because of one or both of the following:
a. They are experiencing developmental delays as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures in one or more of the following areas: cognitive development; physical development, including vision and hearing; communication development; social or emotional development; or adaptive development.
b. They have a diagnosed physical or mental condition which has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay.
c. Services for the at-risk population may be incorporated into the early intervention services system but are not included as a requirement of this chapter.
(5) INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN. A process which includes the development of a written plan containing the required elements designed to address the needs of eligible infants and toddlers and their families in accordance with Section 1477 of Title 20 of the United States Code.
(6) LEAD AGENCY. The Alabama Department of Education.
(7) LOCAL COORDINATING COUNCIL. A working group of interagency representatives, parents and other family members, and others at the local or regional level.
(8) MULTIDISCIPLINARY. The involvement of two or more disciplines or professions in the provision of integrated and coordinated services, including evaluation and assessment activities and development of the individualized family service plan. The multidisciplinary team means a group comprised of the parents, service providers, and others as deemed appropriate by the family.
(9) PARENT. A parent, a guardian, a person acting as a parent of a child, or an appointed surrogate parent. The term does not include the state if the child is a ward of the state.
(10) POLICIES. The state statutes, regulations, orders of the Governor, directives by the lead agency, participating agencies, the Executive Committee, or other written documents that represent the position of the state concerning any matter within the purview of this chapter.
(11) PUBLIC AGENCY. A department, commission, council, board, division, service, private community provider, or an office or administration that is responsible for providing services to eligible infants and toddlers and their families pursuant to this chapter, including, but not limited to, the following:
a. Alabama Department of Education.
b. Alabama Department of Human Resources.
c. Alabama Department of Insurance.
d. Alabama Department of Mental Health.
e. Alabama Department of Public Health.
f. Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.
g. Alabama Medicaid Agency.
(12) REGULATIONS. The regulations implementing Part H of Public Law 99-457 as amended (20 U.S.C. §§1471 to 1485, inclusive), titled Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities and codified as Part 303 of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(13) SERVICE COORDINATION. The case management and other activities carried out by a service coordinator to assist and enable a child eligible under Part H of Public Law 99-457 as amended (20 U.S.C. §§1471 to 1485, inclusive), and the family of the child, to receive the rights, procedural safeguards, and services that are authorized to be provided under the early intervention system of the state.
(14) SERVICE PROVIDER. Any individual or public or private agency who does all or any of the following:
a. Consults with or provides services to parents.
b. Consults with or provides services to other service providers.
c. Participates in the multidisciplinary team evaluation and assessment of a child and family of a child to develop the individualized family service plan.
d. Assists parents and others to provide services.
Last modified: May 3, 2021