As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

            (1) “Cost participation” means fees or other charges through which families share in the cost for early intervention services provided pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.

            (2) “Council” means the Louisiana State Interagency Coordinating Council for EarlySteps established pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. 28:470.

            (3) “Department” means the Louisiana Department of Health.

            (4) “Early intervention services” means developmental services that:

            (a) Are provided under public supervision.

            (b) Are provided at no cost except where federal or state law provides for a system of payments by families, including but not limited to a schedule providing a sliding scale of fees as provided in La. Rev. Stat. 28:469.

            (c) Are designed to meet developmental needs of an infant or toddler with a disability, as identified by the individualized family service plan team, in any one or more of the following areas:

            (i) Physical development.

            (ii) Cognitive development.

            (iii) Communication development.

            (iv) Social or emotional development.

            (v) Adaptive development.

            (d) Meet the standards of the state of Louisiana.

            (e) Include but are not limited to:

            (i) Family training, counseling, and home visits.

            (ii) Special instruction.

            (iii) Speech-language pathology and audiology services and sign language and cued language services.

            (iv) Occupational therapy.

            (v) Physical therapy.

            (vi) Psychological services.

            (vii) Family service coordination services.

            (viii) Medical services only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes.

            (ix) Early identification, screening, and assessment services.

            (x) Health services necessary to enable the infant or toddler to benefit from other early intervention services.

            (xi) Social work services.

            (xii) Vision services.

            (xiii) Assistive technology devices and assistive technology services.

            (xiv) Costs associated with transportation that are necessary to enable an infant or toddler and the infant’s or toddler’s family to receive early intervention services.

            (f) Are provided by qualified personnel, including:

            (i) Special educators.

            (ii) Speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

            (iii) Occupational therapists.

            (iv) Physical therapists.

            (v) Psychologists.

            (vi) Social workers.

            (vii) Nurses.

            (viii) Registered dieticians.

            (ix) Family therapists.

            (x) Vision specialists, including ophthalmologists and optometrists.

            (xi) Orientation and mobility specialists.

            (xii) Pediatricians and other physicians.

            (g) To the maximum extent appropriate, are provided in natural environments, including the home and community settings in which children without disabilities participate.

            (h) Are provided in conformity with an individualized family service plan adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

            (5) “IDEA” means the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

            (6)(a) “Infant or toddler with a disability ” means an individual under three years of age who needs early intervention services because of either of the following:

            (i) The individual is experiencing developmental delays, as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures in the areas of cognitive development, physical development, communication development, social or emotional development, or adaptive development.

            (ii) The individual has a diagnosed physical or mental condition which has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay.

            (b) This definition may also include, at the department’s discretion, at-risk infants and toddlers as defined in Subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph.

            (c) “At-risk infant or toddler” means an individual under three years of age who would be at risk of experiencing a substantial developmental delay if early intervention services were not provided to the individual.

            (7) “Parent” means a person who meets the definition of such term in federal regulations relative to early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families (34 C.F.R. § 303.27).

            Acts 2013, No. 417, §1, eff. June 21, 2013.