VIDBE-Q Volume 67 Issue 4
GOAL 4: Sustain high-quality intervener services across the nation through the
inclusion of intervener services in national special education policy.
The single recommendation for Goal 4 is to include intervener services
under the definition of "related service" and as an early intervention service in the
next reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
This recommendation was the last one in order to acknowledge that while
inclusion of intervener services in IDEA would enhance their long-term
sustainability, it is important to first have systems in place "to recruit, train, and
provide on-the-job support and supervision for interveners and to assist IFSP/IEP
teams in determining a child's need for intervener services." Without this
foundation, schools and other agencies would have difficulty meeting the demand
for qualified interveners.
Implementation of the Recommendations and Current Activities
Increasing Recognition and Use
Consistent with the recommendations for Goal 1, to increase recognition and
use of interveners, many NCDB activities have focused on developing products to
promote intervener services and highlighting the work of state deaf-blind projects
and other agencies.
