Individual Planning

 

As a family with a young child who needs additional support or services before entering school, you may be receiving assistance, intervention, supports and services from your local county Infants and Toddlers program. You can also receive services from MSD in conjunction to those provided by your local Infants and Toddlers program.

 

At the Maryland School for the Deaf, we serve students who have an IFSP; however, their service plans are held by, and case managed, by your resident county Infant and Toddler's Case Manager or Care Coordinator. MSD does not hold IFSP meetings nor have IFSP case managers. MSD works closely with all counties in the state of Maryland to ensure top quality education, supports and services for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

 

The IFSP services begin once a child is found eligible for support and intervention. That eligibility is determined through an assessment process that is established by the state of Maryland in collaboration with each individual county to provide early identification for your child's specific needs. A team of professionals may include a speech pathologist, a physical therapist, an audiologist, or other professionals.

 

The IFSP takes a family-based approach to services and includes features and input that are designed to support the entire family. You are an integral member of the team. Other members of your family may be important contributors as well because you understand your child and his or her needs best.

 

An IFSP is developed 30 days after the determination of eligibility. Subsequent meetings are held every 6 months to measure and document your child's progress on the outcomes or goals that have been created together with your input. At these meetings, updates and modifications can be made. Additional review meetings can be requested at any time.

 

Prior to your child's third birthday, the IFSP team will meet to form a transition plan. It may be determined that your child should continue on an Extended IFSP (eligible until the age of 5), or that they are ready to transition to an IEP by their third birthday. If your child is ready to transition to an IEP, you will be contacted by someone at the Maryland School for the Deaf, IEP Office, to set up an Initial IEP meeting.

 

There are many different types of IEP meetings. Use this site as a quick reference to determine the purpose of your child's meeting. This information is intended as a guide only, to help families better understand the purpose of the meeting they will attend, and what to expect as an outcome.

 

Each student has at least one IEP meeting per year.