Section 480-1-003 - DEFINITIONS The following definitions apply:
003.01APPROVED COOPERATIVE. An approved cooperative is an agreement between two or more school districts for an Educational Service Unit (ESU) approved by the Nebraska Department of Education pursuant to 92 NAC 51 to jointly perform special education functions, including receipt of special education payments.003.02CHILD ASSESSMENT. The ongoing procedures used by qualified personnel to identify the child's unique strengths and needs and the early intervention services appropriate to meet those needs. Child assessment procedures are identified in Nebraska Department of Education regulations at 92 NAC 52.003.03CO-LEAD AGENCIES. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Nebraska Department of Education and any other agencies appointed by the Governor responsible for planning, implementation, and administration of the federal early intervention service program and the Nebraska Early Intervention Act.003.04CONSENT. Consent means that the parent has been informed, in the parent's native language, of all information relevant to the activity for which consent was requested. The consent form describes the activity and lists the early intervention records that will be released and to whom they will be released. The parent understands that the granting of consent is voluntary and may be revoked at any time. Consent cannot be revoked retroactively.003.05EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES. Early intervention services are defined in 92 NAC 52. Early intervention services are provided under public supervision, are selected in collaboration with the parent, and are provided at no cost. These services are designed to meet the developmental needs of each eligible infant or toddler with disabilities and the needs of the family to assist appropriately in the infant's or toddler's development as identified by the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team.003.06ELIGIBLE INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES. Children two years of age or younger who are verified for early intervention services. Toddlers who reach age three during the school year remain eligible through the end of the school's fiscal year.003.07ENTITLEMENT. Benefit(s) of a program granted by law to persons who fit within defined eligibility criteria. Entitlement through the Nebraska Early Intervention Act includes services coordination and development of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).003.08FAMILY ASSESSMENT. A voluntary interview with family members through the use of an assessment tool by qualified personnel to identify the family's resources, priorities, and concerns and the supports and services necessary to enhance the family's capacity to meet the developmental needs of the family's infant or toddler with a disability.003.09INDIVIDUALIZED FAMILY SERVICE PLAN (IFSP). A written plan for providing early intervention services for an eligible infant or toddler and the infant's or toddler's family. The plan is developed and implemented in accordance with regulations in this chapter and with the Nebraska Department of Education regulations at 92 NAC 52.003.10INFANT OR TODDLER WITH A DISABILITY. An individual under three years of age who needs early intervention services because the individual is experiencing a significant developmental delay in one or more areas as defined in Nebraska Department of Education regulations at 92 NAC 52.003.11NATIVE LANGUAGE. When used with respect to an individual who has limited English proficiency, native language means the language normally used by that individual. For evaluations and assessments for a child, native language is the language normally used by the child if determined developmentally appropriate for the child by qualified personnel conducting the assessment. When used with respect to an individual who is hearing impaired, visually impaired, or for an individual with no written language, native language means the mode of communication that is normally used by the individual.003.12NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS. Settings that are natural or typical for a child of the same age who have no disabilities.003.13NOTICE. A written statement provided to the parents of an eligible child a reasonable time before a public agency or service provider proposes or refuses to initiate or change services. This includes identification, evaluation, or placement of the child or the provision of appropriate early intervention services to the child and the child's family. The statement must contain a description of the action, reasons, and an explanation of procedural safeguards. The notice must be provided in the native language of the parent or other mode of communication used by the parent, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so.003.14PARENT. A biological or adoptive parent, an individual acting in the place of a biological or adoptive parent, or legal guardian of a child, but does not include the state if the child is a ward of the State. A parent includes a surrogate parent appointed as provided in 92 NAC 52.003.15PERIODIC REVIEW. A review of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) which must be conducted every six months, or more frequently if conditions warrant, or the family requests such a review.003.16PLANNING REGION TEAM. An organized group of parents, advocates and representatives from school districts, agencies, educational service units, Head Start, and other relevant agencies or persons responsible for assisting in the planning and implementation of the Nebraska Early Intervention Act in each local community or region.003.17SCREENING. Optional procedures and activities adopted by the school district or approved cooperative under Nebraska Department of Education regulations at 92 NAC 52 to identify, at the earliest possible age, infants and toddlers suspected of having a disability and in need of early intervention services; and includes the administration of appropriate instruments by trained personnel.003.18SERVICES COORDINATION. An ongoing flexible, individualized process of interaction facilitated by a services coordinator to assist the family of an eligible infant or toddler with disabilities within a community to gain access to, and coordinate the provision of, early intervention services and coordinate the other services identified in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) that are needed by, or are being provided to, an eligible infant or toddler and their family. The services coordinator assists the family to identify and meet the family and child's needs through coordination of informal and formal supports. This includes activities carried out by a services coordinator to assist and enable an eligible child and the child's family to receive the rights, procedural safeguards, and services that are authorized to be provided under the Early Intervention Program.003.19SERVICES COORDINATION AGENCY. An agency identified in each planning region which assumes the responsibility to deliver the entitlement of services coordination in the region through an agreement or contract with the Department.003.20TRANSITION PLAN. Documentation in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) which includes steps for the toddler with a disability and the toddler's family to exit from the program; and any transition services that the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team identifies as needed by that toddler and the toddler's family.480 Neb. Admin. Code, ch. 1, § 003
Adopted effective 10/3/2021