Preschool Child With A Disability
I. Definition
A Preschool Child with a Disability means a child ages three, four, or five whose developmental progress is delayed to the extent that a program of special education is required to ensure his/her adequate preparation for school-age experiences. Children must meet eligibility requirements established by the State Department of Education in accordance with state and federal law. Children enter the screening and evaluation process by referral from an agency or by scheduling an appointment at a Child Find Screening Clinic.
II. Eligibility Criteria
A multidisciplinary evaluation team may determine that the preschool child has a disability and is eligible for special education and related services, if appropriate. The team must include a teacher or other specialist with knowledge in early childhood education. The child is eligible if the evaluation information collected from multiple sources verifies one or more of the following:
A. The child's score on a standardized norm-referenced test is at least two standard deviations below the mean in one or more of the following areas: cognition, communication, motor, activities of daily living and/or social/emotional.
B. The child's score on a standardized norm-referenced test is at least one and one-half standard deviations below the mean in two or more of the following areas: cognition, communication, motor, activities of daily living and/or/ social/emotional.
C. The child meets specified state eligibility criteria for any of the following disabilities:
- Speech or language impairment
- Orthopedic impairment
- Visual impairment
- Deafness and hearing impairment
- Other health impairment
- Deaf-blindness
- Autism
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple disabilities
III. Evaluation
The following evaluation components are required for children who do not meet one or more of the criteria specified in II C:
A. Documentation of vision, hearing, and speech/language screening completed within the past twelve (12) months.
B. Developmental history, which includes a summary of demographic, developmental, education and medical history obtained from a parent or primary caregiver.
C. Documentation of a structured observation of the child in a typical or other appropriate setting (wherever the child spends the majority of his or her day) by a member of the multidisciplinary evaluation team. If speech is the only disability, a pragmatics assessment must be conducted.
D. A Certified School Psychologist, a Licensed School Psychologist, or a Licensed Psycho-Educational Specialist; and other appropriate professionals, as needed, must conduct a comprehensive developmental evaluation utilizing norm-referenced measures. The comprehensive developmental evaluation shall include measures in the areas of cognition, communication, motor skills and activities of daily living and/or social emotional maturity.
Child Find
Children attending public schools are screened at their school. They are referred to the school assistance team if evaluations are indicated. Children attending private schools or those who are home schooled may be scheduled for an appointment at the Child Find Clinic. Children under age three are referred to BabyNet at 331-1450.
The Child Find Screening Clinic is held at the Center for Developmental Services located at 29 North Academy Street, Greenville, S.C. 29601. Call 331-1302 to schedule an appointment. Parents must give written permission for the screenings held at the Child Find Clinic.
Services
Children meeting eligibility receive services provided by a teacher certified in special education. Many of the teachers hold masters' degrees and certification in early childhood education as well. Other services such as speech, occupational therapy and physical therapy are integrated into the classroom when students qualify for these additional services. Children qualifying for speech services receive therapy provided by a certified speech therapist.
Children qualifying for services have an Individualized Educational Program that contains goals to address delays in the following areas: cognition, communication, motor, activities of daily living and/or social emotional. Children may receive transportation services to and from the classrooms which are located throughout the county, at School District Child Development Centers and at the School District Programs at the Hollis Developmental Center and at the Center for Developmental Services.
The Preschool Special Education Services office is located at: The Center for Developmental Services, 29 North Academy Street, Greenville, S.C. 29601. The telephone number for the office is (864) 331-1420. For a child find screening, call (864) 331-1302.