POLICY LETTER: July 30, 2002 to individual, (personally identifiable information redacted)

Dated: July 30, 2002Thank you for taking the time to meet with Mr. Thomas Irvin, Ms. Judith Gregorian, and Ms.Angela Herring on Wednesday, April 10, 2002. During your visit my staff had the opportunity to meet X, who had received Part C Early Intervention Services through the Washington State Early Intervention System and the Children's Therapy Center. It is our understanding that your experience with early intervention program was a positive one, and you are seeking written clarification on the natural environments provision in Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).The requirement to provide early intervention services in natural environments is not a new requirement. The Department's 1989 regulations initially implementing the early intervention program required that, to the extent appropriate for a child, early intervention services take place in settings in which children without disabilities participate. In the 1991 Amendments to the IDEA, Congress added the requirement of natural environments as a part of the definition of early intervention services, as well as making it a required part of the individualized family service plan (IFSP).The 1997 Amendments to the IDEA further strengthened the requirements related to the provision of early intervention services in natural environments. Each State must have policies and procedures to ensure that: (1) to the maximum extent appropriate, early intervention services are provided in natural environments, including the home and community settings in which children without disabilities participate; and, (2) the provision of early intervention services for any infant or toddler occurs in a setting other than a natural environment only if early intervention cannot be achieved satisfactorily for the infant or toddler in a natural environment (20 USC 1432(4)(G) and 1435(a)(16)). In addition, an IFSP must contain a justification of the extent, if any, to which the services will not be provided in a natural environment (20 USC 1436(d)(5)). Natural environments means settings that are natural or normal for the child's age peers who have no disability (34 CFR 303.18).Early intervention services provided to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families are designed to meet the unique needs of the child, taking into consideration the strengths and needs of tcc:Ms. Sandy LoerchPart C CoordinatorPage PAGE 2