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Useful Terms

Assistive Technology Device, or Adaptive Equipment

Any item, piece of equipment, or product system, including, but not limited to, an apnea home monitor, home nebulizer, wheelchair, splints, braces, orthotics, hearing aids, home oxygen therapy or a home ventilator, whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.

Assistive Technology Services

Assistive technology services include any services that directly assist an individual with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.

Case Study Committee

A case study committee is the school level team comprised of, among others, principals, educators, parents and related service providers who do the following:

  • Oversee screening and referral of children who may acquire special education.
  • Oversee the multidisciplinary evaluation of such children.
  • Determine the eligibility of the student for special education and related services.
  • Formulate an individualized education curriculum reflected in a individualized education program.
  • Monitor the development, review and revising of the Individual Education Programs.

Developmental Delay

  • A. A significant discrepancy in the actual functioning of an infant, toddler, or child, birth through age 5, when compared with the functioning of a non-disabled infant, toddler, or child of the same chronological age in any of the following areas: physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional and adaptive development as measured using standardized evaluation instruments and confirmed by clinical observation and judgment.
  • B. Developmental delay also included those with a high probability of developmental delay. An infant or toddler, birth through age 2, with a diagnosed physical or mental condition, such as chromosomal disorders or 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

Early identification is the implementation of a formal plan for identifying a disability or developmental delay as early as possible in a child’s life. Child Find activities are those in which community agencies work together to identify special needs in infants and toddlers.

Early Identification Services

Early identification services are those services provided pursuant to the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,” as amended, by the Military Medical Departments to infants and toddlers, birth through age 2, who are experiencing developmental delays or who have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay.

Educational and Developmental Intervention Services

These are programs operated by the Military Medical Departments to provide EIS and related services in specific areas of the world as designated by Health Affairs. Airmen, Guardians and civilian employees’ families may receive EDIS from the Army, Navy, or Air Force depending on their locations.

Exceptional Family Member

A family member with any physical, emotional, developmental, educational, or psychological condition that meets the DoD criteria found in DoDI 1315.19, Enclosure 4.

Facility Determination Inquiry

An FDI is a complete package, to include AF Form 1466 and all other supporting forms and documents, that is sent forward for review to the gaining base military treatment facility. For more information, contact the local military treatment facility Exceptional Family Member Program-Medical Office.

Individual Education Program

The IEP is a written document developed by the Case Study Committee and contains input from parents and Related Service providers. It defines specially designed instructional goals for a student with special education service needs. Intensity, frequency, location and methodology of service delivery are specified.

Individualized Family Services Plan

The written document that ensures each eligible child and family has a plan for EIS to meet their unique needs through a collaborative partnership between the family and providers. Areas addressed include: cognitive, physical, social and emotional, communication and adaptive development.

Related Services

Related Services are supportive services provided by schools, communities, and the military medical departments to assist a child, age 3 through 21, who has a disability benefit from special education under the IEP. These include audiology, physical therapy, transportation and other services.

Respite Care

Respite Care is a program providing a temporary rest period for family members responsible for the regular care of people with disabilities. Care may be provided either in the respite care user’s home or a caregiver’s home.

Special Education

Special education is specialized instruction and related services for which a child, age 3 through 21, becomes entitled when a case study committee determines a child’s educational performance is adversely affected by one or more disabling conditions. Depending on their location, military families may be served either by the public school system or by the Department of Defense Education Activity and EDIS.