ASHA staff from Government Relations & Public Policy and Speech-Language Pathology Practices met in January with staff of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), including Jennifer Sheehy, Director of Planning and Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary. The purpose of the meeting was to expand the Association's outreach within the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and to advocate further on behalf of its members regarding the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (commonly known as IDEA). Concerns were also expressed regarding Part B of IDEA and opportunities for further collaboration on Part B implementation issues were discussed, including the issuance of technical assistance in the form of non-regulatory guidance. ASHA will continue to work with ED on these issues.
The regulatory outlook at the Department includes working to release final IDEA Part C regulations before the end of 2008, and anticipates the issuing of supplemental proposed regulations on IDEA Part B in the next 3 months. ASHA will continue to advocate on a number of issues in IDEA Part C, including personnel standards, definition of speech-language pathology services, team models, and strengthening the relationship between EHDI and Part C systems.
ED also plans to issue policy documents on response to intervention (RTI) to provide needed clarification to stakeholders, and is expected to issue supplemental proposed regulations on IDEA Part B this spring to further aid states in implementation. ASHA will continue advocating on IDEA Part B implementation issues of concern to it members, including personnel standards. For more information on this contact Catherine D. Clarke, ASHA's Director of Education and Regulatory Advocacy, by e-mail at cclarke@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4159.
|