Subject: Early Intervention Help, Part 3
PART III: Questions and Answers About Programs and Services for Rural, Native American, Adoptive/Foster, and Military Families and Their Young Children With Disabilities
Q: What about services for families in remote or rural areas?
A: The goals of early intervention or special education programs and services for young children with special needs is the same for both rural and urban families. However, the ways in which these services are offered may be different. Two groups that may be able to offer information specifically about services for rural families are:
American Council on Rural Special Education (ACRES) University of Utah Department of Special Education Milton Bennion Hall Salt Lake City, UT 84112 Telephone: (801) 585-5659
Rural Institute on Disabilities 52 Corbin Hall The University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 Telephone: (800) 732-0323
Q: What about services for Native American families living on reservations?
A: The lead agency for the state is responsible for seeing that early intervention programs and services are provided to infants and toddlers (ages birth through two years) with special needs in the state. The State Education Agency (SEA) is responsible for seeing that programs and services are provided to preschool children (ages three through five) with special needs. These requirements include Native American infants, toddlers, and children living on reservations. Information on these services is available from the lead agency, from the SEA, or by contacting the office of the tribal leader or the tribal education committee. Local public or BIA schools and Indian Health Service (IHS) offices and clinics are also possible sources of information.
Q: What information and support groups are available to help families?
A: There are several types of parent groups including:
-- Support groups (such as Parent-to-Parent) for families of
children with disabilities;
-- Parent training and information programs funded by the federal government, including
some specializing in services for Indian families; and
-- Groups concerned with a specific disability, such as United Cerebral Palsy
Associations, Inc. (UCPA) or the Arc (formerly the Association for Retarded Citizens of
the United States).
Q: What additional information do families of adopted or foster children with disabilities need about early intervention or special education services?
A: In general, the process for getting early intervention or
special education programs and services for adopted children with special needs is the
same as it is for all children with special needs.
An organization that has a nationwide family support network of adoptive families is
Adoptive Families of America (AFA). While the main focus of this organization is to
provide general help and information to all adoptive families, its bimonthly parent
support magazine includes information and resources for families of adopted children who
have special needs.
Until the end of 1996, their address is:
Adoptive Families of America, Inc. (AFA) 3333 Highway 100, North Minneapolis, MN 55422 Telephone: (612) 535-4829
After January 1, 1997, their address is: Adoptive Families of America, Inc. (AFA) 2309 Como Avenue St. Paul, MN 55108 Telephone: (612)645-0055
Families who provide foster homes to children who have disabilities or who are at risk of developing disabilities may want to contact the National Foster Parent Association, Inc. (NFPA). This national, non-profit group offers information and support to all foster parents. Members of the group receive a bimonthly newsletter and have access to nearly 500 NFPA resource materials.
For the Information/Services Office of NFPA, contact:
National Foster Parent Association, Inc. Information/ Services Office 9 Dartmoor Dr. Crystal Lake, IL 60014 Telephone: (815) 455-2527
Q: How do I find out about programs and services for military families whose young children have special needs?
A: One way is through a project known as Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP). This organization provides information and help to military families (both in the U.S. and overseas) who have children with special needs.
The STOMP staff is made up of parents of children with special needs who are trained to work with other parents of children with special needs. As spouses of members of the military, the staff understands the unique needs of military families.
To contact STOMP, call or write:
Specialized Training of Military Parents (STOMP) 12208 Pacific Highway, S.W. Tacoma, WA 98499 Telephone: (206) 588-1741 (Parents can call collect.)
Another way to learn more about early intervention and special education programs and services for children in military families stateside is to contact the Community Service Center (also called Family Service Center or Family Resource Center) or the assigned community contact person on your installation.
While most children of military families attend (or will attend) public schools, some are in Section VI schools. Section VI schools provide early intervention services and special education services in accordance with the Interim Final Rules issues in the Federal Register on October 6, 1993 (Federal Register, Volume 58, Number 192, pages 51996-52010). As of July 1994, a final Department of Defense Instruction in this regard is anticipated. Once this Instruction is issued, copies should be available at each local military installation, Section VI school, Superintendent's Office.
The office of Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DODDS) overseas issues a handbook for military families with children who have special needs and who are receiving, or are eligible to receive, a free appropriate public education through DODDS overseas. To order the handbook, write or call:
Department of Defense Dependent Schools 4040 North Fairfax Drive Arlington, VA 22203-1635 Telephone: (703) 696-4493
