Part C Eligibility

Part C eligibility is determined by each state's definition of developmental delay and whether it chooses to include children at risk for disabilities in the eligible group. An important part of the evaluation process for infants and toddlers includes informed clinical opinion of professionals experienced with development in the very young.

• State and Jurisdictional Eligibility Definitions for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Under IDEA (PDF: 207kb) , Jo Shackelford, February 2006, includes states serving at-risk infants and toddlers
• Part C Underserved Populations:State Outreach Efforts (PDF: 190kb) , Luzanne Pierce and Eve Müller, Project Forum at NASDSE, August 2005. This document describes innovative strategies from 5 states to located populations that are traditionally underserved in Part C.
• Informed Clinical Opinion (PDF: 49kb) , Jo Shackelford, May 2002
• Part C Early Intervention Eligibility for Infants and Toddlers with Hearing Loss (PDF: 115kb) - a summary of states' policies for established risk and specifically definitions used for hearing impairment. This draft is linked with the permission of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Information & Resource Center.
• Estimating Services Needs: An Epidemiological Approach (DOC: 124kb) , an OSEP Technical Assistance Document based on a presentation by Dr. Colleen Boyle of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the Annual Part C Data Managers Meeting, 2000. The paper describes the use of epidemiologic data to estimate the number of children eligible for Part C services. It also contains tables of states' birth defects surveillance activities, conditions screened for, and status of newborn hearing screening.
• Part C of IDEA Child Count Data Tables: Part C Child Count data is one measure that can assist states in determining performance related to early identification and provision of services to children with disabilities. Part C Child Count data is available for several fiscal years and reports reflect the number of Part C children served.