[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 34, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 34CFR303.16]

[Page 183]
 
                           TITLE 34--EDUCATION
 
            REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
 
PART 303--EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES--Table of Contents
 
                           Subpart A--General
 
Sec.  303.16  Infants and toddlers with disabilities.

    (a) As used in this part, infants and toddlers with disabilities 
means individuals from birth through age two who need early intervention 
services because they--
    (1) Are experiencing developmental delays, as measured by 
appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in one or more of the 
following areas:
    (i) Cognitive development.
    (ii) Physical development, including vision and hearing.
    (iii) Communication development.
    (iv) Social or emotional development.
    (v) Adaptive development; or
    (2) Have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high 
probability of resulting in developmental delay.
    (b) The term may also include, at a State's discretion, children 
from birth through age two who are at risk of having substantial 
developmental delays if early intervention services are not provided.

(Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1432(5))
    Note 1: The phrase ``a diagnosed physical or mental condition that 
has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay,'' as used in 
paragraph (a)(2) of this section, applies to a condition if it typically 
results in developmental delay. Examples of these conditions include 
chromosomal abnormalities; genetic or congenital disorders; severe 
sensory impairments, including hearing and vision; inborn errors of 
metabolism; disorders reflecting disturbance of the development of the 
nervous system; congenital infections; disorders secondary to exposure 
to toxic substances, including fetal alcohol syndrome; and severe 
attachment disorders.
    Note 2: With respect to paragraph (b) of this section, children who 
are at risk may be eligible under this part if a State elects to extend 
services to that population, even though they have not been identified 
as disabled.
    Under this provision, States have the authority to define who would 
be ``at risk of having substantial developmental delays if early 
intervention services are not provided.'' In defining the ``at risk'' 
population, States may include well-known biological and environmental 
factors that can be identified and that place infants and toddlers ``at 
risk'' for developmental delay. Commonly cited factors include low birth 
weight, respiratory distress as a newborn, lack of oxygen, brain 
hemorrhage, infection, nutritional deprivation, and a history of abuse 
or neglect. It should be noted that ``at risk'' factors do not predict 
the presence of a barrier to development, but they may indicate children 
who are at higher risk of developmental delay than children without 
these problems.

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