§ 2541. Definitions. As used in this title the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

1. "Children at risk" means children who may experience a disability because of medical, biological or environmental factors which may produce developmental delay, as determined by the commissioner through regulation.

2. "Coordinated standards and procedures" means standards and procedures developed by state early intervention service agencies pursuant to section twenty-five hundred fifty-one of this title.

3. "Council" means the early intervention coordinating council established under section twenty-five hundred fifty-three of this title.

4. "Developmental delay" means that a child has not attained developmental milestones expected for the child's chronological age, as measured by qualified professionals using appropriate diagnostic instruments and/or procedures and informed clinical opinion, in one or more of the following areas of development: cognitive, physical, communication, social or emotional, or adaptive.

5. "Disability" means:

(a) a developmental delay; or

(b) a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay, such as Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities, sensory impairments, inborn errors of metabolism or fetal alcohol syndrome.

6. "Early intervention official" means an appropriate municipal official designated by the chief executive officer of a municipality and an appropriate designee of such official.

7. "Early intervention services" means developmental services that:

(a) are provided under public supervision;

(b) are selected in collaboration with the parents;

(c) are designed to meet a child's developmental needs in any one or more of the following areas:

(i) physical development, including vision and hearing,

(ii) cognitive development,

(iii) communication development,

(iv) social or emotional development, or

(v) adaptive development;

(d) meet the coordinated standards and procedures;

(e) are provided by qualified personnel;

(f) are provided in conformity with an IFSP;

(g) are, to the maximum extent appropriate, provided in natural environments, including the home and community settings where children without disabilities would participate;

(h) include, as appropriate:

(i) family training, counseling, home visits and parent support groups,

(ii) special instruction,

(iii) speech pathology and audiology,

(iv) occupational therapy,

(v) physical therapy,

(vi) psychological services,

(vii) case management services, hereafter referred to as service coordination services,

(viii) medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes, subject to reasonable prior approval requirements for exceptionally expensive services, as prescribed by the commissioner,

(ix) early identification, screening, and assessment services,

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

(xi) nursing services,

(xii) nutrition services,

(xiii) social work services,

(xiv) vision services,

(xv) assistive technology devices and assistive technology services,

(xvi) transportation and related costs that are necessary to enable a child and the child's family to receive early intervention services, and

(xvii) other appropriate services approved by the commissioner.

(i) are cost-effective.

8. (a) "Eligible child" means an infant or toddler from birth through age two who has a disability; provided, however, that any toddler with a disability who has been determined to be eligible for program services under § 4410 of the education law and:

(i) who turns three years of age on or before the thirty-first day of August shall, if requested by the parent, be eligible to receive early intervention services contained in an IFSP until the first day of September of that calendar year; or

(ii) who turns three years of age on or after the first day of September shall, if requested by the parent and if already receiving services pursuant to this title, be eligible to continue receiving such services until the second day of January of the following calendar year.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivision, a child who receives services pursuant to § 4410 of the education law shall not be an eligible child.

9. "Evaluation" means a multidisciplinary professional, objective assessment conducted by appropriately qualified personnel and conducted pursuant to section twenty-five hundred forty-four of this title to determine a child's eligibility under this title.

10. "Evaluator" means a team of two or more professionals approved pursuant to section twenty-five hundred fifty-one of this title to conduct screenings and evaluations.

11. "IFSP" means the individualized family service plan adopted in accordance with section twenty-five hundred forty-five of this title.

12. "Lead agency" means the department of health, the public agency responsible for the administration of the early intervention system in collaboration with the state early intervention service agencies.

13. "Municipality" means a county outside the city of New York or the city of New York in the case of a county contained within the city of New York.

13-a. Subject to federal law and regulations, "natural environment" or "natural setting" means a setting that is natural or normal for the child's age peers who have no disability.

14. "Parent" means parent or person in parental relation to the child. With respect to a child who has no parent or person in a parental relation, "parent" shall mean the person designated to serve in parental relation for the purposes of this title, pursuant to regulations of the commissioner promulgated in consultation with the commissioner of social services for children in foster care.

15. "Qualified personnel" means:

(a) persons holding a state approved or recognized certificate, license or registration in one of the following fields:

(i) special education teachers;

(ii) speech and language pathologists and audiologists;

(iii) occupational therapists;

(iv) physical therapists;

(v) social workers;

(vi) nurses;

(vii) dieticians or nutritionists;

(viii) other persons designated by the commissioner who meet requirements that apply to the area in which the person is providing early intervention services, where not in conflict with existing professional licensing, certification and/or registration requirements.

(b) persons holding a state approved license in one of the following fields:

(i) psychologists; or

(ii) physicians.

16. "Service coordinator" means a person who:

(a) meets the qualifications established in federal law and regulation and demonstrates knowledge and understanding of:

(i) infants and toddlers who may be eligible for services under this title;

(ii) principles of family-centered services;

(iii) part H of the federal individuals with disabilities education act and its corresponding regulations;

(iv) the nature and scope of services available under this title; and

(v) the requirements for authorizing and paying for such services and other pertinent information;

(b) is responsible for:

(i) assisting eligible children and their families in gaining access to services listed on the IFSP;

(ii) coordinating early intervention services with other services such as medical and health services provided to the child;

(iii) coordinating the performance of evaluations and assessments;

(iv) participating in the development, monitoring and evaluation of the IFSP;

(v) assisting the parent in identifying available service providers;

(vi) coordinating service delivery;

(vii) informing the family of advocacy services;

(viii) where appropriate, facilitating the transition of the child to other appropriate services; and

(ix) assisting in resolving any disputes which may arise between the family and service providers, as necessary and appropriate; and

(c) meets such other standards as are specified pursuant to section twenty-five hundred fifty-one of this title.

17. "State early intervention service agencies" means the departments of health, education and social services and the offices of mental health and alcoholism and substance abuse services and the office for people with developmental disabilities.

18. "Year" shall mean the twelve-month period commencing July first unless otherwise specified.