Special Education Legislation and Pediatric Occupational Therapy Development

Comprehensive review flashcards covering special education legislation (IDEA, EHA, Section 504), service delivery models, primitive reflexes, child development theories (Piaget, Erikson), and play development.

What major law was enacted in 1975 by President Gerald Ford, and what did it establish?

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA / P.L. 94-142), which established the fundamental right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) for ages $3\text{ to }21$.

What did the 1983 P.L. 98-199 Amendments authorize?

Authorized federal funding supports specifically targeting transition services from secondary school to adult life.

What did the 1986 P.L. 99-457 Amendments mandate?

Mandated statewide early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth to age $2$), creating what is now Part C.

What changes were introduced under the 1990 P.L. 101-476 legislation?

Formally changed the name to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), added autism and traumatic brain injury as distinct categories, and mandated Individualized Transition Plans (ITPs).

What did the 1997 P.L. 105-17 Reauthorization guarantee and formalize?

Guaranteed access to the general education curriculum, expanded developmental delay definitions, and formalized mediation paths.

What was the significance of the 2004 Improving Education Results Act (P.L. 108-446)?

It was the last full reauthorization; it aligned special education with school accountability frameworks and raised qualifications for special education teachers.

How are "related services" defined under special education legislation?

Developmental, corrective, and supportive services to assist a child with disability.

How are "Free" and "Appropriate" defined within Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)?

• Free: Provided at public expense under public supervision without charge to parents. • Appropriate: Tailored education that meets the child's unique needs and prepares them for further education, employment, and independent living.

What is required to establish eligibility for services under special education law?

Evaluation, and the child must have a pertaining diagnosis.

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, when is a referral made and what is the evaluation timeline?

A referral is made when there is suspicion of a limiting disability (evaluating academic and functional performance), and the evaluation must be conducted within $60\text{ days}$ of referral.

What are the components of a top-down evaluation?

Contextual observation, occupation-based assessment, activity assessment, body function and structure tool, and occupation-based report.

What is an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?

A legal, binding written plan under IDEA Part B developed by a multidisciplinary team (including parents, teachers, and specialists) containing current performance metrics, measurable annual goals, special education accommodations, and progress tracking mechanisms.

Within what timeframe must an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) be established following a referral?

Within $45\text{ days}$ of referral.

What areas do transition services address under IDEA?

Employment, postsecondary education, independent living, and community participation.

How do Early Intervention (EI) models and School Settings compare in terms of environment, plan followed, and funding/focus?

• EI Model: Happens in child's natural context (home, community, etc.), follows IFSP, funded by government or sliding scale. • School Setting: Happens within natural LEARNING environment, follows IEP, works toward educational/academic function. • Overlap: Both work with families for goal setting and can be inter/intradisciplinary.

What negative and positive family impacts are identified regarding having a child with disabilities?

• Negative impacts: Fear, anger, guilt, grief, initial milestones, chronic isolation, financial burden, time constraints, role changes. • Positive impacts: Parents report stronger bond, improved priorities, positive collaboration, profound personal journeys.

What are the three steps of shared decision making in OT interventions with families?

1. Introduction of choice, 2. Description of options, 3. Support during the decision-making process by exploring preferences.

What are the principles of maturation?

Cephalocaudal direction, proximodistal direction, readiness, reciprocal interweaving, and self-regulating fluctuation.

What are the four purposes of reflexive activity in infancy?

Protection, neural pathway building, voluntary motor control precursor, and body awareness/sensory motion.

How is the Moro reflex characterized, when does it integrate, and what skill develops as it integrates?

Rapid extension of the upper extremities followed by flexion of the upper extremities in response to a startling stimulus; integrates at $2\text{--}6\text{ months}$; integration leads to improved postural control, balance, and coordinated movement.

How is the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) characterized, when does it integrate, and what skill develops as it integrates?

Head flexion causes flexion of the arms and legs, or extension of the head causes extension of the arms and legs; integrates at $3\text{--}4\text{ months}$; integration leads to improved antigravity control, postural stability, and balance.

How is the Spinal Galant reflex elicited and when does it integrate?

Stimuli is applied to the lower back and then the hips swing toward the stimuli; it integrates at $3\text{--}9\text{ months}$.

How is the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) characterized, when does it integrate, and what skill develops upon integration?

Activated by head movement (divides body into left and right): turning the head to one side causes extension of arms and legs on that side and flexion on the opposite side; integrates at $4\text{--}6\text{ months}$; leads to midline orientation, bilateral coordination, and reaching across the body.

How does the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) present and what skills develop as it integrates?

Divides body into bottom and top half: flexion of the head causes flexion of arms and extension of legs, while extension of head causes extension of arms and flexion of legs; integration results in improved separation of upper- and lower-body movements, quadruped positioning, and crawling-related control.

What developmental skills emerge from the integration of the Palmar grasp reflex?

Voluntary grasp and release, object manipulation, and development of fine motor control.

What developmental skill emerges from the integration of the rooting and sucking reflexes?

More voluntary oral-motor control for feeding.

What pattern characterizes the sequential development of the CNS and postural control?

Cephalocaudal progression, with behaviors and skills developing in a spiral pattern.

According to Jean Piaget, what are the four stages of cognitive development and their key characteristics?

• Sensorimotor (birth–$2$): Learns through movement and senses; develops object permanence. • Preoperational ($2\text{--}7$): Uses symbols and pretend play; thinking is often egocentric. • Concrete operational ($7\text{--}11$): Uses logical thinking for concrete situations; understands conservation. • Formal operational (approximately $12+$): Develops abstract and hypothetical reasoning.

What are Erik Erikson's five psychosocial development stages mentioned, and what does each stage build?

• Trust vs. mistrust (infancy): Develops trust through consistent care. • Autonomy vs. shame and doubt (toddlerhood): Develops independence through choices and self-care. • Initiative vs. guilt (preschool): Initiates activities, explores, and uses imagination. • Industry vs. inferiority (school age): Builds competence through learning and accomplishments. • Identity vs. role confusion (adolescence): Explores identity, values, and roles.

How do physical, social, and cultural environments influence performance?

• Physical: Classroom layout, lighting, noise, playground accessibility, and available materials. • Social: Family expectations, teacher support, peers, and caregiver interactions. • Cultural: Values, routines, beliefs, and expectations related to play, self-care, and school.

What is Exploratory play and during what age period does it occur?

Exploratory play of self and how to affect the world; tends to be object-centered; occurs during infancy up until $18\text{ months}$.

What is Imaginative/pretend play and what is its developmental timeline?

Play that incorporates social themes to better understand the world, relate to others, and understand societal roles; begins with objects and transforms to take place with other children with specific play themes and complex ideas; begins around $2\text{ years}$ of age and decreases around age $8$.

What are the characteristics and developmental course of Constructional Play?

Helps develop fine motor and cognitive skills while manipulating objects to discover new uses for them; develops in preschool years through middle childhood and into adolescence when it becomes more abstract.

What is the function and timeline of Games/group play?

Shapes what are to be the important rules and how to comply with the wishes of others; occurs from preschool through adolescence.