Terms to Know
Adaptive Behavior
A child’s adjustment to change, and development of self-help skills such as feeding, toileting and dressing.
Applied Behavior Analysis
This is a systematic behavioral approach in treating children, currently being used primarily with autistic children. ABA refers to a style of teaching that uses a series of trials to shape a desired behavior or response. Skills are broken down to their simplest components and then taught to the child through a system of reinforcement. Prompts are given as needed when a child is learning a skill or refuses to comply. As the child begins to master a skill, the prompts are gradually faded until the child can do the skill independently. Each trial functions like a building block, and together these building blocks provide the foundation for learning. The program is very positive and the child is set up for success by starting out with easier trials, reinforced, then moved on to more difficult tasks.
Assessment
The initial and ongoing procedure used to identify:
- the child’s unique needs and strengths
- the family’s resources, priorities and concerns relative to that child’s development
- the nature and extent of early intervention services that are needed by the child and the child’s family to address the needs identified in the evaluation process.
Assistive Technology Devices and Services
Equipment and services that are used to improve or maintain the abilities of a child to participate in such activities as playing, communicating, eating or moving.
At Risk
A term used to identify children who may, in the future, have problems with their development that may affect learning or development.
Audiological Services
The evaluation and treatment of children with hearing concerns.
Behavior Modification
The use of specific techniques to change, reduce, increase or eliminate behaviors.
Child with Special Needs
A term used to describe a child who has a disability or developmental delay, and requires therapeutic treatment.
Cognitive Functioning
The ability to understand, respond to and learn from one’s environment. Includes problem-solving and play skills.
CPSE (Committee on Preschool Special Education) Services
The New York State Education Department (NYSED), Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) oversees a statewide preschool special education program with school districts, municipalities, approved providers and parents. Evaluations and specially planned individual or group instructional services or programs are provided at no cost to eligible children ages 3-5 who have a disability that affects their learning.
Consent
The approval a parent gives to a program or the county, generally in writing. Consent is always voluntary and a parent may revoke it at any time.
Developmental
Having to do with the steps or stages in the growth of a child.
Developmental Delay
The term used to indicate that a child is not reaching developmental milestones at the expected times.
Early Intervention Services
Services provided by qualified personnel that meet the needs of a child and family as described in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). These services are provided with parent consent and to the maximum extent possible in the natural environment.
Early Intervention Official
A person appointed by the county to be responsible for the Early Intervention Program in that county.
Eligibility Requirements
The requirements a child must meet to be able to receive early intervention services. This will include the age of the child and whether or not the child has a diagnosed disability or developmental delay.
Evaluation
Generally, a comprehensive process that provides information about each child’s unique abilities and needs through any procedures, tests or assessment including observations.
Expressive Language
The ability to use sounds and words to communicate.
Fine Motor Skills
Eye-hand coordination, hand and finger skills.
Gross Motor Skills
Large muscle skills such as those required for crawling, walking and climbing.
IEP
Individualized Education Program – A program for a child’s special educational services developed by the parent and a CPSE, which includes goals written specifically for addressing that child’s needs. This is for preschool children ages 3-5, coordinated and written by a child’s school district.
IFSP
Individualized Family Service Plan – A written plan for the child’s and family’s services in the Early Intervention Program that the family develops with a team of qualified personnel and the Early Intervention Official. This includes goals and strategies to address priorities and concerns.
Multidisciplinary
The involvement of two or more professionals from different areas of training in providing early intervention services, including evaluation, assessment and the implementation of the IFSP.
Natural Environment
Settings that are natural or normal for young children with or without disabilities. This may include the home, a child care setting, or other community settings in which children participate.
Nutritional Services
Services that help address the nutritional needs of children, which include diet plans and nutritional strategies.
Occupational Therapy
Services that relate to self-help skills, adaptive behavior and play, and sensory, motor and postural development.
Physical Therapy
Services to prevent or lessen large muscle movement difficulties and related functional problems.
Preschool Services
Services provided to children ages 3 to 4.11 years old through the child’s local school district. Children who receive preschool services exhibit a significant delay or disability in one or more functional areas related to cognitive, language and communicative, adaptive, socio-emotional or motor development which adversely affects the child’s ability to learn.
Psychological Services
Administering and interpreting psychological tests and information about a child’s behavior and child and family conditions related to learning, mental health and development as well as planning services including counseling, consultation, parent training, and education programs.
Receptive Language
The comprehension of words and gestures used in communication.
Service Coordinator
The person who works in partnership with the family by providing assistance to help the family coordinate services through the Early Intervention Program and on the IFSP.
Social Work Services
Preparing an assessment of the social and emotional strengths and needs of a child and family, and providing individual or group services such as counseling or family training.
SEIT (Special Education Itinerant Teacher)
A special education teacher who works with a child, ages 3-5, in a setting recommended by the CPSE.
Special Instruction (early intervention term)
Services that include design of learning environments and activities that promote the child’s development, providing families with information, skills and support to enhance the child’s development.
Speech-Language Pathology
Services for children with delays in communication skills or with motor skills such as weakness of muscles around the mouth or swallowing.
Transition
The process where a child at age 3 will move out of the Early Intervention Program into the Preschool Special Education Program or community-based early childhood situation. Also, the process when a school-age child leaves the preschool system and enters a school-age program.
Vision Services
Identification of children with visual disorders or delays, and services and trainings to those children.
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