State Variability in Diagnosed Conditions for IDEA Part C Eligibility

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Special Education

Background:

• Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act mandates early intervention services for infants and toddlers with diagnosed conditions likely to cause developmental delay.
• The criteria for initiating these services, specifically the list of qualifying diagnosed conditions, differ significantly among states.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the heterogeneity in diagnosed conditions used by states to initiate Part C early intervention services.
• To identify potential disparities in access to early intervention services based on state-specific condition lists.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive analysis was conducted using lists of diagnosed conditions obtained from state Part C websites and Part C coordinators.
• Data were collected from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and 4 territories.

Main Results:

• A total of 620 unique conditions were compiled, with no single condition listed by all jurisdictions.
• Hearing impairment (38 states) and fetal alcohol syndrome (34 states) were the most frequently listed conditions.
• The vast majority of listed conditions (89%) were identified by fewer than 10 states, highlighting significant variation.

Conclusions:

• The wide variation in diagnosed conditions across states may lead to inequities in children's access to Part C evaluations and services.
• Standardizing or improving access to these condition lists could help facilitate service access for eligible children nationwide.