Verification Guidelines for Children with Disabilities

1. Verification Guidelines for Children with Disabilities Technical Assistance Document Nebraska Department of Education Special Education Office September 2008

2. Multidisciplinary Evaluation Teams and Reporting of Diagnostic Data (92-NAC 51.006) • Child Find • Student Assistance Team • Evaluation and Other Assessment Materials • Multidisciplinary Team Requirements • MDT Written Report • Children Who Do Not Qualify

3. Speech-Language Impairment • Introduction • Three Part Eligibility Requirement • Meet verification criteria (92 NAC 51.006.04L) • Documentation: Adverse Effect on Educational Performance • Determination: Need for Special Education Services

4. Speech-Language Impairment (cont’d) • Definition • The child must have a communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, language impairment or a voice impairment • The disorder must adversely affect the child’s educational performance, or for children below age five, their development.

5. Speech-Language Impairment (cont’d) • Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team Composition • Verification Criteria and Procedures (92NAC51-006) • Appropriate selection and use of assessment instruments and evaluation materials • Comprehensive in nature • Interpretation of evaluation data • Information from variety of sources • Information is documented and carefully considered

6. Speech-Language Impairment (cont’d) • Verification Guidelines (NDE T.A. Document) • Evaluation must demonstrate below average performance in language or articulation, or abnormal patterns in voice or fluency • Documentation must demonstrate: • A pattern of deficits • Having an adverse effect • Based on multiple data sources • Verification based on a pattern of performance below the average range and documenting significant adverse effect

7. Speech-Language Impairment (cont’d) • Expanded Definitions of • Language • Articulation • Voice • Fluency

8. Speech-Language Impairment (cont’d) • Considerations Regarding Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Children • Consideration of both structure of language/dialect and cultural values affecting communication • Materials and procedures must ensure they measure extent to which the child has a disability, NOT to measure the child’s English language skills

9. Speech-Language Impairment (cont’d) • Language, Articulation, Voice and Fluency • Array of Assessment Information • Reference to an Assessment Continuum • Determination (documentation) of Adverse Effect

10. Speech-Language Impairment (cont’d) • Verification Process, as guided by the NDE Technical Assistance Document 1. Implement Verification Criteria and Procedures (Rule 51) 2. Implement Verification Guidelines (NDE TA Document) • Use of array of assessment information • Reference to Assessment Continuum • Determination and documentation of Adverse Effect

11. Speech-Language Impairment (cont’d) • Related Definitions • Frequently Asked Questions • References and Resources

12. For Additional Information Special Education Office Nebraska Department of Education Telephone: 402-471-2471 Web Address: www.neb.state.ne.us/SPED/sped/html