Under IDEA Part C, Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Get Academic Assistance

posted on Nov 01 by Guest Author in the Disability Law, Disability News category

Final regulations for an early intervention program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) were recently released by the Department of Education. The regulations under Part C of IDEA incorporate amendments made in 2004. Part C is a state program that serves children through age 2 with developmental delays or those with mental or physical conditions that can lead to developmental delays. Part C’s primary objective is to ensure that these children with disabilities are adequately prepared for preschool and Kindergarten.

“As everyone who works in education understands, one of the most important things we can offer children is a high-quality early learning experience that prepares them for kindergarten,” said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education. “This is true for all children—but it’s especially important for infants and toddlers with disabilities to have access to high-quality early intervention services that prepare them to successfully transition to preschool and kindergarten. The Part C regulations will support the Education Department’s commitment to the goal of preparing more children with high needs with a strong foundation for success in school and beyond.”

Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, recently held a roundtable event with Duncan, Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy, and Maureen Cronin, Bureau Director of Early Intervention Services for the state of Pennsylvania, at a YMCA in Erie, PA. The group discussed the Part C regulations at the event, and Posny blogged about her experience on the WhiteHouse.gov site.

Posny got to spend time in the classroom and play with some of the local children. She met with parents, addressed their concerns, and provided information about the Part C regulations. She also met with lead agency personnel, service coordinators, and early intervention service providers to tell them about some of the Part C changes and ensure everyone that the administration’s reform goals–increasing flexibility, reducing burden, and, most importantly, improving outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities–were addressed.

Posny was glad she was able to share information about the Part C regulations in Pennsylvania, a state Secretary Duncan highly commended for their commitment to early childhood education. Pennsylvania was also one of the first states to successfully pair early intervention with early childhood education, keeping all programs under one roof.

Forty of the roundtable attendees were parents and families, who shared some of their experiences and urged others to aggressively advocate for their children to make sure they get the best services possible. One parent stressed the importance of investing in early childhood education, noting that it saves money in the long run, which is especially important in times when budgets are tight. Everyone agreed that only through collaboration can these programs be successful for our youngest populations of learners.

Sources:
http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-department-announces-regulations-improve-outcomes-infants-and-toddlers
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/09/09/improving-lives-infants-and-toddlers-disabilities-and-their-families
http://www.nectac.org/partc/partc.asp

Images source:
http://www.ideainfanttoddler.org

Video source:
http://www.youtube.com/user/usedgov