Glossary of Terms
Assessment
Assessment means the initial and ongoing procedures used by qualified professionals and family members, following determination of eligibility, to collect and gather information in order to determine the child’s unique strengths and needs and the nature and extent of early intervention services required by the child and the family to meet those needs.
Diagnostic Assessment
Diagnostic assessment is a norm-referenced assessment that compares a child’s performance to a representative group of same age peers. It is designed to obtain specific information (nature and severity) on a suspected delay. And may cover all major domains or be specific to suspected delays. It is usually administered by professionals, often specialists.
Programmatic Assessment
Programmatic assessment is the process of establishing a comprehensive picture of a child’s developmental performance. It is the process of gathering data to inform what skills we need to teach the child. It is a criterion based measure (i.e. it compares a child’s performance on a meaningful skill to a set of criteria related to this skill).
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
IFSP is both a process and a written comprehensive plan developed by a team of professionals and the family. It describes the outcomes (goals and changes) that the family hopes to accomplish over the twelve (or less) months for their child (from birth to the age of three) and their family. IFSP provides a clear map of interventions and supports and the framework for meeting the unique needs of child and family.
Individual Educational Plan (IEP)
IEP is a written plan for a school-aged child (3 years and above) with special needs developed by a team of professionals, school teachers, and the child’s family. It describes how the child is presently doing, what the child’s developmental and educational needs, and what services the child will need to meet those needs. It is reviewed and updated yearly.
Mediation
Mediation refers to the process of bringing parties together to work with each other to resolve a disagreement.
Transition
The transition process within DECDC requires the development of a transition plan.
A transition plan is a written document that is part of the IFSP or IEP. It identifies how the family and the early intervention team will help the child and family move beyond EI services at age three or six. The plan describes what steps and supports will be needed to ensure that the child transitions smoothly to inclusive school, preschool, nursery or other community based services, or leaves supports and services because the child is no longer eligible for services and supports at DECDC.
Intervention
Intervention refers to providing services and supports that intend to:
- Enhance the development of a child with special needs to maximise his/her potential for development
- Enhance the capacity of families and caregivers to meet the child’s developmental and educational needs, promote his/her optimal development and facilitate his/her participation in family and community activities
Enrollment
Enrollment is the process of initiating and documenting the admission of the family and child and their access to DECDC services after establishing eligibility through the initial assessment phase.
Discharge
Discharge refers to the process by which a child and family exit from the early intervention program and are no longer recipients of DECDC active services, this process is based on specific criteria and follows defined guidelines and procedures.
Initial Assessment
The initial assessment is the process used to determine a child’s eligibility for the DECDC early intervention program supports and services.
After the family contacts DECDC requesting services (initial contact), the service coordinator meets with the parents/ guardians and the child. In this meeting, s/he conducts an initial assessment composed of four components: an initial intake, a family assessment, a developmental screening, and an environmental assessment. This service is provided in the child’s natural environment (home or/and school based) and/or at DECDC premises.
Initial Intake
Initial intake is a child and family case history outlining family background information and child psychosocial, medical, and developmental history.
Family Assessment
Family assessment refers to an ongoing and interactive process by which professionals gather information in order to determine family priorities for goals and services, in addition to identifying the family’s concerns and resources as they relate to enhancing the development of the child.
Informed Consent
Informed consent means, in reference to a parent, that the parent:
- Has been fully informed of all information relevant to an activity for which consent is sought, in the parent’s language or other mode of communication.
- Understands that information.
- Agrees in writing to the activity for which consent is sought and the written consent describes that activity and lists the records, if any, that will be released in this connection, and to whom the records will be released.
- Understands that the granting of consent is voluntary and may be revoked at any time.