Evaluation and Assessment in Early Intervention - Part C of IDEA
The evaluation and assessment process in early intervention is driven by requirements in the federal (CFR) and state of Maryland (COMAR) special education law and regulations pertaining to early intervention. In early intervention in particular, the process must be family-centered and must include a family’s concerns, priorities, and resources. Evaluation is the process used to determine a child's initial and ongoing eligibility for early intervention services.
In early intervention, evaluation must be conducted in five developmental areas in order to determine a child’s present level of development. The five required areas are:
- Cognitive development
- Physical development (including vision and hearing)
- Communication development
- Social or emotional development
- Adaptive development
Assessment is the ongoing process of identifiying a child's functional and unique strengths and needs, and early intervention services appropriate to meet those needs. Assessment is also the ongoing process of identifying a family's concerns, priorities and resources, in order to enhance a family's capactity to meet the needs of their child.
