Assessment. Techniques, procedures, and/or instruments used to measure the individual components of an evaluation.

Assistive technology device. Any item, piece of equipment, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of children with disabilities.

Assistive technology service. Any service that directly assists an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. That term includes the following:

(1) The evaluation of the needs of an individual with a disability, including a functional evaluation in the individual's customary environment.

(2) Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by individuals with disabilities.

(3) Selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices.

(4) Coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing educational and rehabilitative plans and programs.

(5) Training or technical assistance for an individual with disabilities, or, the family of an individual with disabilities.

(6) Training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing educational rehabilitative services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of an individual with a disability.

Audiology. A service that includes the following:

(1) Identification of children with auditory impairments.

(2) Determination of the range, nature, and degree of hearing loss, and communication functions including referral for medical or other professional attention for the habilitation of hearing.

(3) Provision of habilitative activities, such as language habilitation, auditory training, speech-reading (lip

(4) Creation and administration of programs for the prevention of hearing loss.

(5) Counseling and guidance of pupils for the prevention of hearing loss.

(6) Determination of the child's need for group and individual amplification, selecting and fitting an aid, and evaluating the effectiveness of amplification.

Autism. A development disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction generally evident before age 3 that adversely affects educational performance. That term does not include a child with characteristics of the disability termed "serious emotional disturbance."

Case study committee (CSC). (1) A school-level team comprised of, among others, the principal, other educators, parents, and MRS providers who do the following:

(i) Oversee screening and referral of children who may require special education.

(ii) Oversee the multidisciplinary evaluation of such children.

(iii) Determine the eligibility of the student for special education and related services.

(iv) Formulate an individualized education curriculum reflected in an Individualized Education Program (IEP), in accordance with this part.

(v) Monitor the development, review, and revision of IEPs.

(2) In addition to the required members of the CSC, other membership will vary depending on the purpose of the meeting. An area CSC, appointed by the DODDS Area Superintendent, acts in the absence of a school CSC. Members of an area CSC may be assigned to augment a school CSC. The area CSC must have at least two members besides the parent. One of the DoDDS members must have the authority to commit DoDDS resources; one shall be qualified to provide, or supervise the provision of special education. Other members may be selected from the following groups:

(i) DODDS regular education person

nel.

(ii) DODDS special education personnel.

(iii) MRS personnel.

Child-find. The ongoing process used by the DoDDS, the Military Departments, and the other DoD Components to seek and identify children from birth to age 21, inclusive, who may require early intervention services or special education and related services. Child-find activities include the dissemination of information to the public, the identification and screening of children, and the use of referral procedures.

Children with disabilities (ages 3 To 21, inclusive). Children, before graduation from high school or completion of the General Education Degree, who have one or more impairments, as determined by a CSC and who need special education and related services.

Consent. That term means the follow

ing:

(1) The parent is fully informed of all information about the activity for which consent is sought in the native language or in another mode of communication, if necessary.

(2) The parent understands and agrees in writing to the implementation of the activity for which permission is sought. That consent describes the activity, lists the child's records (if any) to be released outside the Department of Defense, and specifies to whom the records shall be sent. The signed consent acknowledges the parent's understanding that the parental consent is voluntary and may be revoked at any time.

Counseling service. A service provided by a qualified social worker, psychologist, guidance counselor, or other qualified personnel.

Deaf-blindness. Concomitant hearing and visual impairments. That disability causes such severe communication, developmental, and educational problems that it cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or blindness. Deafness. A severe hearing loss or deficit that impairs a child's ability to process linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification, and affects the educational performance adversely.

Developmental delay. That term means the following:

(1) A significant discrepancy in the actual functioning of an infant, toddler, or child, birth through age 5, when compared with the functioning of a nondisabled infant, toddler, or child of the same chronological age in any of the following areas: physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, and adaptive developmental as measured using standardized evaluation instruments and confirmed by clinical observation and judgment.

(2) High probability for developmental delay. An infant or toddler, birth through age 2, with a diagnosed physical or mental condition, such as chromosomal disorders and genetic syndromes, that places the infant or toddler at substantial risk of evidencing a developmental delay without the benefit of early intervention services.

Early identification. The implementation of a formal plan for identifying a disability as early as possible in a child's life.

Early intervention services. (1) Developmental services that meet the following criteria:

(i) Are provided under the supervision of a Military medical Department.

(ii) Are provided using Military Health Services System resources at no cost to the parents. Parents may be charged in those instances where Federal law provides for a system of payments by families including a schedule of sliding fees, if any, (and incidental fees identified in Service guidance) that are normally charged to infants, toddlers, and children without disabilities or to their parents.

(iii) Are designed to meet the developmental needs of an infant or toddler with a disability in any one or more of the following areas:

(A) Physical.
(B) Cognitive.

(C) Communication.
(D) Social or emotional.
(E) Adaptive development.

(iv) Meet the standards developed or adopted by the Department of Defense.

(v) Are provided by qualified personnel including early childhood special

educators, speech and language pathologists and audiologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, nutritionists, family therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and pediatricians and other physicians.

(vi) Maximally, are provided in natural environments including the home and community settings where infants and toddlers without disabilities participate.

(vii) Are provided in conformity with an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

(2) Developmental services include, but are not limited to, the following services: family training, counseling, and home visits; special instruction; speech pathology and audiology; occupational therapy; physical therapy; psychological services; service coordination services; medical services only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes; early identification, screening and assessment services; vision services; and social work services. Also included are assistive technology devices and assistive technology services; health services necessary to enable the infant or toddler to benefit from the above early intervention services; and transportation and related costs necessary to enable an infant or toddler and the family to receive early intervention services.

Eligible. The term refers to children who meet the age, command sponsorship, and dependency requirements established by the DDEA, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 921 et seq. and DoD Directive 1342.13. When those conditions are met, children without disabilities, ages 5 to 21, and children with disabilities, ages 3 to 21, inclusive, are authorized to receive educational instruction from the DODDS. Additionally, an eligible infant or toddler with disabilities is a child from birth through age 2 years who meets all of the DoDDS eligibility requirements except for the age requirement. In school year 1994 through 1995, multidisciplinary assessments, IFSPs, and case management services shall be required and beginning in school year 1995 through 1996, an eligible infant or toddler is entitled to receive early intervention services, in accordance with 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.

Evaluation. The synthesis of assessment information by a multidisciplinary team used to determine whether a particular child has a disability, the type and extent of the disability, and the child's eligibility to receive early intervention or special education and/or related services.

Family training, counseling, and home visits. Services provided by social workers, psychologists, and other qualified personnel to assist the family of an infant or toddler eligible for early intervention services. Those services assist a family in understanding the special needs of the child and enhancing the child's development.

Free appropriate public education (FAPE). Special education and related services that do the following:

(1) Are provided at no cost to parents of a child with a disability, and are under the general supervision and direction of the DoDDS.

(2) Are provided in the least restrictive environment at a preschool, elementary, or secondary school.

(3) Are provided in conformity with an IEP.

(4) Meet the requirements of this part.

Functional vocational evaluation. A student-centered appraisal process for vocational development and career decision making. It allows students, educators, and others to gather information about such development and decision making. Functional vocational evaluation activities for transitional, vocational, and career planning; instructional goals; objectives; and implementation.

Health services. Services necessary to enable an infant or toddler to benefit from the other early intervention services being received under this part. That term includes the following:

Independent evaluation. An evaluation conducted by a qualified examiner who is not employed by the DoDDS.

Individualized education program (IEP). A written document defining specially designed instruction for a student with a disability, ages 3 to 21, inclusive. That document is developed and implemented, in accordance with this part.

Individualized family service plan (IFSP). A written document for an infant or toddler, age birth through 2, with a disability and the family of such infant or toddler that is based on a multidisciplinary assessment of the unique needs of the child and concerns and priorities of the family, and identifies the early intervention and other services appropriate to meet such

needs, concerns, and priorities.

Infants and toddlers with disabilities. Children, ages birth through 2, who need early intervention services because they:

(1) Are experiencing a developmental delay; or,

(2) Have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has high probability of resulting in a developmental delay.

Inter-component. Cooperation among DoD organizations and programs, ensuring coordination and integration of services to infants, toddlers, children with disabilities and to their families.

Medical services. Those evaluative, diagnostic, therapeutic, and supervisory services provided by a licensed and /or credentialed physician to assist CSCs and to implement IEPs. Medical services include diagnosis, evaluation, and medical supervision of related services that, by statute, regulation, or professional tradition, are the responsibility

of a licensed and credentialed physician.

Medically related services. (1) Medical services (as defined in definition "Medical services") are those services provided under professional medical supervision, which are required by a CSC to determine a student's eligibility for special education and, if the student is eligible, the special education and related services required by the student under this part.

(2) Direct or indirect services under the development or implementation of an IEP necessary for the student to benefit from the educational curriculum. Those services may include medical services for diagnostic or evaluative purpose, social work, community health nursing, dietary, occupational therapy, physical therapy, audiology, ophthalmology, and psychological testing and therapy.

Meetings. All parties attending a meeting to determine eligibility or placement of a child shall appear personally at the meeting site on issuance of written notice and establishment of a date convenient to the concerned parties. When a necessary participant is unable to attend, electronic communication suitable to the occasion may be used to involve the unavailable party. Parents generally shall be responsible for the cost of travel to personally attend meetings about the eligibility or placement of their child.

Mental retardation. Significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior. That disability is manifested during the developmental period and adversely affects a child's educational performance.

Multidisciplinary. The involvement of two or more disciplines or professions in the integration and coordination of services, including evaluation and assessment activities, and development of an IFSP or an IEP.

Native language. When used with reference to an individual of limited English proficiency, the home language normally used by such individuals, or in the case of a child, the language normally used by the parent of the child. Natural environments. Settings that are natural or normal (e.g., home or

day care setting) for the infant, toddler, or child's same-age peers who have no disability.

Non-DoDDS placement. An assignment by the DoDDS of a child with a disability to a non-DoDDS school or facility. Non-DoDDS school or facility. A public or private school or other institution not operated by the DoDDS.

Nutrition services. Those services to infants and toddlers include the following:

(1) Conducting individual assessments in nutritional history and dietary intake; anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical variables; feeding skills and feeding problems; and food habits and food preferences.

(2) Developing and monitoring plans to address the nutritional needs of infants and toddlers eligible for early intervention services.

(3) Making referrals to community resources to carry out nutrition goals.

Occupational therapy. That term includes services to address the functional needs of children (birth to age 21, inclusive) related to adaptive development; adaptive behavior and play; and sensory, motor, and postural development. Those services are designed to improve the child's functional ability to perform tasks in home, school, and community settings, and include the following:

(1) Identification, assessment, and intervention.

(2) Adaption of the environment and selection, design, and fabrication of assistive and orthotic devices to help development and promote the acquisition of functional skills.

(3) Prevention or minimization of the impact of initial or future impairment, delay in development, or loss of functional ability.

Orthopedic impairment. A severe physical impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. That term includes congenital impairments such as club foot or absence of some member; impairments caused by disease, such as poliomyelitis and bone tuberculosis, and impairments from other causes such as cerebra palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns causing contractures.

Other health impairment. Limited strength, vitality, or alterness due to

chronic or acute health problems that adversely affect a child's educational performance. Such impairments include heart condition, tuberculosis, rheumatic fever, nephritis, asthma, sickle cell anemia, hemophilia, seizure disorder, lead poisoning, leukemia, diabetes, or attention deficit disorder.

or

Parent. The biological father mother of a child; a person who, by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, has been declared the father or mother of a child by adoption; the legal guardian of a child; or a person in whose household a child resides, if such person stands in loco parentis to that child and contributes at least one-half of the child's support.

Parent counseling and training. A service to assist parents in understanding the special needs of their child's development and by providing them with information on child development and special education.

Personally identifiable information. Information that would make it possible to identify the infant, toddler, or child with reasonable certainty. Examples include name, parent's name, address, social security number, or a list of personal characteristics.

Physical therapy. That term includes services to children (birth to age 21, inclusive) to address the promotion of sensorimotor function through enhancement of musculoskeletal status, neurobehavioral organization, percepand motor development, cardiopulmonary status, and effective environmental adaption. Those services include the following:

tual

(1) Screening, evaluation, and assessment to identify movement dysfunction.

(2) Obtaining, interpreting, and integrating information to appropriate program planning to prevent, alleviate, or compensate for movement dysfunction and related functional problems.

(3) Providing individual and group services or treatment to prevent, alleviate, or compensate for movement dysfunction and related functional problems.

Primary referral source. Parents and the DoD Components, including child development centers, pediatric clinics, and newborn nurseries, that suspect an infant or toddler has a disability and