Kansas Resources

• Asking the Right Questions, Getting the Right Answers: Evaluating Young Children for Special Education Services - This packet has been developed as a resource to enable you to understand the issues related to evaluating young children for special education services.

• Are They Ready for Kindergarten? The Pros & Cons of Redshirting Young Children - This packet has been developed as a resource to enable you to understand the issues related to delaying kindergarten entry or retaining children in kindergarten.

• Community Early Intervention Networks -brochure listing all Kansas Infant Toddler Programs. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

• Connecting Point - Parents and community providers are working together to ensure quality services are available to young children, ages birth through five, and their families in Sedgwick County.

• Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Developmental Services - The Kansas Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Developmental Services is established by federal regulation (34 CFR 303, Subpart G) and State statute (KSA 74-7801, 74-7802). The mission of the Council is to advise and assist state government in matters pertaining to preschool children with (or at risk of) developmental delays/disabilities. The Council serves in this advisory role to the two lead agencies responsible for administering Part C of IDEA (KDHE) and Part B of IDEA (KSDE).

• Creating Meaningful & Measurable Early Childhood IEP Goals &Objectives - This packet has been developed as a resource to enable you to understand the issues related to writing goals and objectives that are both meaningful and measurable.

• Guidelines for Implement for Early Intervention Services in Natural Environments - In those instances when an IFSP team decides that a natural environment is not the best location to provide a service, it must be justified on the IFSP. P.L. 105-17 requires that “the IFSP contain a statement of the natural environments in which early intervention services will be provided, and a justification of the extent, if any, to which the services will not be provided in a natural environment”. [CFR 303.344(d)(ii)] Networks must revise IFSP forms if there is currently no area to reflect this information. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

• How does Kansas define who's eligible for services? -  Find the answer in State and Jurisdictional Eligibility Definitions for Infants and Toddlers With Disabilities Under IDEA. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

• How does my state define "developmental delay" under Part B of IDEA? - Find the answer in Eligibility Policies and Practices for Young Children Under Part B of IDEA. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

• Kansas Guidelines for Implementation of Early Childhood Special Education Services - Early intervention provides the necessary services to enable young children who experience or are at risk for developmental delays to progress toward the maximum of their abilities. When these services are provided in a timely and appropriate manner, and in the context of the family, the need for further intervention can often be eliminated or reduced.

• Kansas Head Start Association - Head Start is a national child development program for children from birth to age 5, which provides services to promote academic, social and emotional development, as well as providing social, health and nutrition services for income-eligible families.

• Kansas Inservice Training System - KITS is a program of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities at Parsons and is supported through grants from the Kansas State Department of Education-Student Support Services, (Grant #21004) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment-Infant/Toddler Services.

• Part C Eligibility and Data Based Assessment Decisions - This packet has been developed as a resource to enable you to understand the issues related to determining eligibility using data based decision making.

• Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Kansas Department of Health and Environment - Infant-Toddler Services (ITS) is a comprehensive, statewide system of community-based, family-centered early intervention services for young children, ages 0-3, with disabilities and their families. The services are provided through the implementation of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

• The Research and Training Center - A national initiative to examine the status of service coordination for children with disabilities and their families receiving early intervention services under Part C of IDEA.

• Service Coordination under IDEA - Early intervention service coordination is a mandated service under Part C of IDEA, provided at no cost to families. Service coordination is defined as an active, ongoing process that assists and enables families to access services and assures their rights and procedural safeguards.

• Sound Beginnings - Kansas Newborn Hearing Screening Program - The Newborn Hearing Screening Program, Sound Beginnings, goal is to identify congenital hearing loss in children before three months of age with appropriate intervention no later than six months of age.

• States' Part C Eligibility Definitions Account for Differences in the Percentage of Children Participating in Early Intervention Programs, comes from TRACE (Tracking, Referral and Assessment Center for Excellence) (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

• Transitioning from Inclusive Early Childhood Programs to Kindergarten: Transition Checklist - a checklist. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

• Transition: From Part C to Part B Services - Planning for the transition from early intervention (Part C) to preschool services (Part B) is a very important step in the life of a child and family. It is also critical to service providers and the continuity of services.

• Technology Supports Inclusion in Preschool: Providing All Preschoolers With Opportunities to Learn - Increasingly, students with disabilities are being educated in preschool settings together with typically-developing children. As the youngest students with disabilities strive toward the same developmental milestones as their non-disabled peers, the challenge is to provide all students with opportunities.  (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

• Tots 'n Tech Research Institute - TnT conducts a national research program about use of assistive technology (AT) to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities. Visit TnT's Web site for training materials, easy explanations of AT for infants and toddlers, family materials, research briefs, and connections to the world of AT.

• What Do You Do When You Get There? Providing Itinerant Services in Inclusive Settings -Young children (0-5) with disabilities are increasingly being provided special education services in community early childhood settings. An itinerant model of service delivery allows early childhood special education teachers and specialist to bring special education services to young children in those community programs; however, the itinerant role is new for many early childhood professionals. This packet was developed to assist early interventionists/early childhood special educators who provide services to young children in community early childhood settings to better define their role. The articles and information that are contained in this packet provide research-based strategies and resources that can be used to collaborate with community programs and provide special education services to young children with disabilities and their families.

• Writing Family-Guided IFSP Outcomes - This packet has been developed as a resource to enable you to understand the issues related to writing IFSP outcomes for young children and their families.

Other Resources

• Assessments for Young Children - Assessment is the process of gathering information about a student in order to make decisions about this or her education. One kind of assessment procedure is testing. In elementary and secondary schools, tests are given routinely to measure the extent to which we profit from instruction. We may have taken intelligence, aptitude, interest, personality tests or nay number of other kinds of tests.

• Assistive Technology for Infants and Toddlers - Research shows that assistive technology (AT) can help young children with disabilities learn valuable skills.(1) For example, by using computers and special software, young children may improve in the following areas...social skills including sharing and taking turns, social skills including sharing and taking turns, communication skills, attention span, fine and gross motor skills and self  confidence and independence. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

• Assuring the Family's Role on the Early Intervention Team - The procedural safeguards required by The Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Program  (Part C) of the Individuals  with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are intended to protect the interests  of families with infants and toddlers with special needs and of the early intervention system. Procedural safeguards are the checks and balances of the system, not a piece separate from the system. For families, rights and safeguards help ensure that an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed that addresses their priorities and concerns. (Requires Adobe Acrobat  Reader )

• Baby Builders - Are you concerned about your child’s development? Or is your baby "at-risk" for developmental delays? BABY BUILDERS was created to help you!

• Early Childhood Outcomes Center - ECO is the Early Childhood Outcomes Center: Demonstrating Results for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers with Disabilities and Their Families. If you're looking for research-based info on how to measure outcomes and the success of your efforts, you'll soon find yourself at ECO.

• Early Childhood Resource Center - RTI supports local, state, national, and international efforts to promote optimal development in early childhood by providing research and technical assistance to early childhood programs. We conduct child and family assessments, classroom observations, program quality assessments, and training. We also provide technical assistance for early childhood professionals, and we evaluate state and local programs.

• Early Head Start National Resource Center - Early Head Start is a child development program for low-income families. Each Early Head Start program is responsible for determining its' own eligibility criteria. Family income is one key factor in determining eligibility.

• Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) - The Newborn Hearing Screening Program, , goal is to identify congenital hearing loss in children before three months of age with appropriate intervention no later than six months of age.

• Essential Preschool Skills - Take a look at these sample preschool skills for self-help, motor, social-emotional, language, and cognitive development. Each sample shows a different age group.

• Finding Help for Young Children with Disabilities (Birth-5) - If you are concerned about your child’s development or suspect that your child may have special needs, this Parent’s Guide can help. It’s designed to help you get started learning what your child may need and finding professionals and other families who can help along the way. The guide is a bit technical—it offers the nuts and bolts to building support systems for your child and your family. (Requires Adobe Acrobat  Reader )

• For early interventionists: Intro to "the medical home." - The brief described in the bullet above is also intended for early intervention programs. It will help programs learn about the role of the medical home in providing comprehensive, coordinated, collaborative care in concert with the family and other medical and non-medical service providers; The brief also provides strategies for effective collaboration and communication between the pediatric clinician and early intervention programs in the provision of quality, comprehensive care. (Requires Adobe Acrobat  Reader )

• For pediatricians: Intro to early intervention - Pediatricians are often among the first professionals to see and work with children who have special health care needs. As such, they are invaluable links in the system of referral to early intervention for families. This 12-page brief explains the early intervention system to pediatricians, from the legal basis for EI to an excellent overview of how the system works and what it is intended to accomplish. (Requires Adobe Acrobat  Reader )

• A Guide For Families: Using Assistive Technology With Infants & Toddlers - For many of us the mere mention of the word "technology" makes our heart race and our palms sweat. A recent survey conducted by the International Electronics Commission indicated that 9 out of 10 of us cannot program our VCRs. Each day, however, we all use a variety of pieces of technology. Every time we ride in a car or make a phone call or cook diner, we are using technology. These "machines" help us to do things faster and better and hopefully make our lives easier.

• Head Start Bureau - The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities.

• Head Start Information & Publication Center - supports the Head Start community and other organizations working in the interest of children and families by providing information products and services; conference and meeting support; publication distribution; and marketing and outreach efforts.

• Home-To-School Communication Systems - great resource with example home to school communication systems for children who are non-verbal.  (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader )

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• Is your baby reaching his DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES? - The first year of life is an exciting and challenging time in your baby's life. He will go through many changes physically, emotionally and mentally. The skills he will learn in the first year of life will set the stage for his future.

• National Association for the Education of Young Children - The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization.

• National Association Of Head Start - The National Head Start Association is a private not-for-profit membership organization dedicated exclusively to meeting the needs of Head Start children and their families. It represents more than 1 million children, 200,000 staff and 2,600 Head Start programs in the United States. The Association provides support for the entire Head Start community by advocating for policies that strengthen services to Head Start children and their families; by providing extensive training and professional development to Head Start staff; and by developing and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.

• National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center - NECTAC supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Its mission is to strengthen service systems to ensure that children with disabilities (birth through five) and their families receive and benefit from high quality, culturally appropriate, and family-centered supports and services. The center addresses this mission by working primarily with the state agencies responsible for ensuring EI services.

• National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education - Welcome to the National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education (ECI) Home Page. The design of the page encourages collaboration at all levels -- families, educators, communities, policymakers -- in an effort to assist all children.

• Out-Side the Box: Resources for Parenting and Teaching Student's Who Learn Differently - Here Is A Place For Parents and Teachers Who Recognize the Special Needs of Misunderstood Kids Who Have ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and Related Learning Disabilities.

• OSEP Policy Letters of Clarification Related to the Early Childhood Provisions of IDEA - This list contains links to OSEP policy letters that specifically address early childhood provisions of the IDEA (Part C and Section 619). Additional letters, which address Part B of the IDEA, may also be relevant to preschool-aged children.

• A Parent's Guide to Understanding Developmental Assessment - New Visions for Parents materials have been developed for parents who are concerned about their child's development. Such parents may schedule a developmental assessment of their child to determine the child's strengths and areas of concern that intervention might be able to address.

• Paving The Way To Kindergarten For Children With Disabilities - transition to kindergarten a timeline to help make the move a smooth one

• The Pediatrician's Role in Development & Implementation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and/or an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) - The Individual Education Plan and Individual Family Service Plan are legally mandated documents developed by a multidisciplinary team assessment that specifies goals and services for each child eligible for special educational services or early intervention services. Pediatricians need to be knowledgeable of federal, state, and local requirements; establish linkages with early intervention, educational professionals, and parent support groups; and collaborate with the team working with individual children.

• Technology Supports Inclusion in Preschool - Increasingly, students with disabilities are being educated in preschool settings together with typically-developing children. As the youngest students with disabilities strive toward the same developmental milestones as their non-disabled peers, the challenge is to provide all students with opportunities to...

• Using Social Stories to Ease Transitions - one of the greatest challenges for families and teachers is a young child’s successful transition to a new school experience. To become more sensitive to the needs of children, early childhood teachers have long focused on the transition process itself.  And activities such as open houses, home visits, and creating a gradual entrance into the school day are quite common.

• What is Early Intervention - Early intervention applies to children of school age or younger who are discovered to have or be at risk of developing a handicapping condition or other special need that may affect their development. Early intervention consists in the provision of services such children and their families for the purpose of lessening the effects of the condition. Early intervention can be remedial or preventive in nature--remediating existing developmental problems or preventing their occurrence.

• What is the difference between an IFSP and an IEP? - My 2-year-old son has an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). We are told that when he turns 3, he will have an Individualized Educational Program (IEP). What is the difference? (Requires Adobe Acrobat  Reader )

• What's a "medical home," and why is it so important for children with special health care needs? - The National Center for Medical Home Initiatives will answer this question in spades. Through the National Center, physicians, parents, administrators, and other health care professionals have access to educational, resource, and advocacy materials, guidelines for care, evaluation tools, and technical assistance.

• ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants/Toddlers - During the first three years of life, your child will develop crucial intellectual, emotional and social abilities, learn to give and accept love, to be confident and secure, to show empathy, to be curious and persistent—all abilities that will enable your child to learn, relate well to others and lead a happy and productive life. This is an exciting period in your child's life!

Contact the Families Together Center near you for more information