Funded  through a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research,
U.S. Department of Education, under contract number H224B990002. The opinions expressed do not
necessarily reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Education, and no official endorsement by the
U.S. Department of Education of the opinions expressed herein should be inferred.

Copyright 2004 Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.

In this issue ...
IDEA PART C
Early Intervention Services to Infants and Toddlers Under Part C
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Special Features
Assistive Technology Included In Ifsp's
Administrative Hearings
Register Now For The "Bridges To Better Advocacy" Conference
NIDRR To Require Paats To Use Web-based Annual Reporting System

IDEA PART C
Early Intervention Services to Infants and Toddlers Under Part C
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

INTRODUCTION

      Children with disabilities from birth through age two are served by Part C of the federal Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 20 U.S.C. §§ 1431-1445; 34 C.F.R. Part 303. Often referred to simply as Part C or the Early Intervention Program, this program authorizes funding for a wide range of services for infants and toddlers within the eligible age range.

        Although the Early Intervention Program is within the IDEA, because of the young age of the children being served, the services can be much less "educational" in nature. The emphasis is on meeting the overall developmental needs of the child. There is also a strong emphasis on prevention. For example, services are to be designed not only to meet the developmental needs of each child, but also to meet "the needs of the family related to enhancing the child's development." 34 C.F.R. § 303.12(a)(1). When enacting Part C (then Part H), Congress found that there was an urgent and substantial need to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities; to minimize their potential for developmental delay, need for special education or institutionalization; to maximize their potential for independent living; and to enhance the capacity of families to meet the special needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities. 20 U.S.C. §1431(a).

        This article describes the Part C (Early Intervention) Program; explains what services are available through the program, including assistive technology (AT) devices and services and how to apply for them; explains how a child's Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed; and details the options available when a family wishes to challenge the denial of services. When first enacted, Early Intervention was in Part H of the IDEA. With the reauthorization of the IDEA in 1997 (IDEA'97), the program was moved to Part C. We did an earlier newsletter, December 1996/January 1997, focusing on Early Intervention when it was in Part H. This newsletter is an update of that article, and all references to the statute and regulations reflect the changes from IDEA'97.

        NOTE: Section 619 of Part B (20 U.S.C. § 1419, 34 C.F.R. Part 301) of the IDEA permits states, at their discretion, to serve children ages three to five as well as children who are two but who will turn three during the course of the school year. States may also, at their discretion, serve children who turn three during the school year until the start of the next school year using Part C funds, as long as they are not also being served under Section 619.

WHAT IS THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM?

        Part C requires each state to develop a "statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families." 20 U.S.C. § 1431(b); 34 C.F.R. § 303.1(a). Each state must designate a lead agency, which bears responsibility for overall implementation, administration and monitoring of the Early Intervention Program. 20 U.S.C. § 1435(10); 34 C.F.R. § 303.142. Unlike Part B, the lead agency is not necessarily the state education agency. Although a number of public agencies may be involved in delivering services, the lead agency must also have a procedure in place to ensure that services are provided in a timely manner pending resolution of any disputes between those agencies or the service providers. 20 U.S.C. § 1435(a)(10)(D), 34 C.F.R. § 303.525.

        To be eligible for services a child must meet the age requirement and need early intervention services because the child has a developmental delay(s) in one or more of the following areas:

• cognitive development
• physical development (including vision and hearing)
• communication development
• social or emotional development
• adaptive development
• and/or has a diagnosed physical or mental condition which has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay.

        The criteria for eligibility may also include, at a State's discretion, at-risk infants and toddlers. 20 U.S.C. §1432(5); 34 C.F.R. § 303.16 ("AT-RISK INFANT OR TODDLER- The term ‘at-risk infant or toddler' means an individual under 3 years of age who would be at risk of experiencing a substantial developmental delay if early intervention services were not provided to the individual." 20 U.S.C. § 1432(1)). Each state must specify the criteria by which it measures developmental delay. 20 U.S.C. §1435(a)(1); 34 C.F.R. § 303.161.

LIMITATIONS ON FEES OR COSTS

        All services under the Early Intervention Program must be provided at no cost unless federal or state law allows for payment by families, and states may establish a sliding scale of fee payments. 20 U.S.C. § 1432(4)(B); 34 C.F.R. § 303.12(a)(3)(iv). However, if the state guarantees a free appropriate public education from birth, the state may not charge parents for any services required under that state law which are provided to children eligible for early intervention services. Id. § 303.521(c). Each state must establish a policy concerning payment of fees, if any. Id. § 303.520(a). Such a policy may not allow fees for services a child would otherwise be entitled to receive at no cost and the parents' inability to pay for services cannot result in the denial of services to the child or family. Id. § 303.520(b)(3)(i) and (ii).

        Moreover, the following services must be provided at no cost:

• Implementation of the State's child find requirements
• Evaluations and assessments
• Service coordination
• The development, review and evaluation of the IFSP
• Procedural safeguards

Id. § 303.521(b).

        For all other services, including AT devices and services, the Part C program is the payer of last resort. 20 U.S.C. § 1440(a). Although the child need not be eligible for Medicaid to obtain services under Part C, if available the child's Medicaid or private insurance may be used to pay for early intervention services. Id.; 34 C.F.R. § 303.527(a). To prevent the delay of services, however, early intervention funds may be used to pay for services pending payment by the ultimate entity responsible. Id. § 303.527(b)(1).

THE PROCESS BEGINS WITH A REFERRAL

        As part of its required comprehensive child find system, each state must develop and publicize its procedures for referring children for early intervention services. 20 U.S.C. § 1435(a)(6); 34 C.F.R. § 303.320. Parents who believe their child needs early intervention services may make the referral directly. The list of others who may make referrals is very broad. Id. § 303.321(d)(3).

THE SERVICE COORDINATOR

        Once a child has been referred to the Early Intervention Program, a service coordinator must be appointed by the agency implementing the program. Id. § 303.321(e)(1). The service coordinator is responsible for overall implementation and coordination of the early intervention services to be provided, and must be from the profession most relevant to the child or family's needs or otherwise qualified to carry out all of his or her responsibilities. 20 U.S.C. § 1477(d)(7); 34 C.F.R. § 303.344(g)(1). The service coordinator's role is an ongoing and active one, designed to be a single point of contact for the family to ensure that they receive all the rights and services to which they are entitled. It is the duty of the service coordinator to be "continuously seeking the appropriate services and situations necessary to benefit the development of each child" throughout the child's eligibility. Id. § 303.23(a)(3)(iv).
The specific duties of the service coordinator include:

• Coordinating the evaluation process
• Facilitating and participating in the development, review, and evaluation of IFSPs
• Assisting families in identifying available service providers
• Coordinating and monitoring the delivery of available services
• Facilitating the development of a transition plan to preschool services, if appropriate
• Coordinating with medical and health providers
• Informing families of the availability of advocacy services

Id. § 303.23 (b).

SPECIFIC SERVICES AVAILABLE ARE VERY BROAD

        Services must be designed to meet the developmental needs of the child and the needs of the family and are to be selected in collaboration with the parents. Id. § 303.12(a). To the maximum extent appropriate for the child, services are to be provided in a natural setting, such as the home or a day care center. 20 U.S.C. § 1432(4)(G); 34 C.F.R. § 303.12(b).

        Services available through the Early Intervention Program include:

• Family training, counseling, and home visits
• Special instruction
• Speech-language pathology and audiology services
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychological services
• Service coordination services
• Medical services only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes
• Early identification, screening, and assessment services
• Health services necessary to enable the infant or toddler to benefit from the other early intervention services
• Social work services
• Vision services
• AT devices and AT services
• Transportation and related costs that are necessary to enable an infant or toddler and the infant's or toddler's family to receive another service

20 U.S.C. § 1432(4)(E); 34 C.F.R. § 303.12(d).

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY IS COVERED

        Both AT devices and services are available under the Early Intervention Program and have the same definitions as they do for preschool and school aged special education programs. An "AT device" is any item or piece of equipment "that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of a child with a disability." An "AT service" is "a service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device." It also includes training or technical assistance for professionals, the individual or, where appropriate, the family. 20 U.S.C. §1401(1) and (2); 34 C.F.R. 303.12(d)(1).

        Some examples of AT devices used by infants and toddlers:

• Manual or power wheelchairs
• Specialized strollers or car seats to accommodate the needs of a child with a disability
• Specially adapted toys and recreation equipment
• Augmentative communication systems
• Assistive listening devices including hearing aids, personal FM units and closed caption TV
• Assistive feeding devices including electric feeders

        There is an Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) letter that addresses assistive technology for Part C (at that time Part H) eligible children. In Letter to Anonymous, 21 IDELR 1126 (November 30, 1993), OSEP clarifies that AT and audiology services must be provided to an eligible child only if they are determined to be relevant to meeting the developmental needs of the child and the needs of his/her family – an analysis that is to be done on a case-by-case basis in connection with the development of the IFSP.

A COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIDISPLINARY EVALUATION IS REQUIRED

        Once a referral is received, there must be a timely, comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation designed to identify the "the child's unique strengths and needs and the services appropriate to meet those needs; and the resources, priorities, and concerns of the family and the supports and services necessary to enhance the family's capacity to meet the developmental needs of their [child]." 34 C.F.R § 303.322(a)(1) and (b)(2). The evaluation must include a review of health and medical records and an assessment of the functioning level and unique needs of the child in each of the following areas of development: cognitive, physical, communication, social and emotional, and adaptive behavior. Id. § 303.322(c)(3).
The multidisciplinary evaluation must be nondiscriminatory and in the family's native language or "other mode of communication, unless it is clearly not feasible to do so." Id. § 303.323. A "Family Assessment" must also be offered to help identify the concerns, resources and strengths of the family. However, this assessment is voluntary on the part of the family, id. § 303.322(d), and protections for the family are included in the regulation.
If the child or family needs immediate services, they may be available before an evaluation takes place. In such a case, an interim IFSP must be developed. The interim IFSP lists the early intervention services that have been determined to be necessary immediately and identifies a service coordinator to be responsible for implementing it. Id. § 303.345. This allows the child and family to receive services until the evaluation is completed and a final IFSP is written.

DEVELOPING THE IFSP

        If the evaluation team determines that a child is eligible for services, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting will be held at a time and place convenient for the parents. 20 U.S.C. § 1436; 34 C.F.R. § 303.342(a) and (d)(1)(i). The meeting will be attended by the evaluator, the service coordinator, service provider(s), as appropriate, and the parents, along with any other persons the parents invite, including an advocate. Id. § 303.343(a). At the IFSP meeting, the same service coordinator as the one who handled the evaluation process may be assigned for ensuring implementation of the IFSP or a new service coordinator may be selected. Id. § 303.344(g)(2). The name of the service coordinator must be listed on the IFSP. Id. § 303.344(g)(1). The IFSP meeting must be held no later than 45 days after the early intervention official receives the referral. Id. § 303.321(e)(2).

        The IFSP must be in writing and include:

• The Child's Current Level of Development: including current level of physical development (including vision, health and hearing), cognitive development, communication development, social or emotional development, and adaptive development, based on professionally acceptable objective criteria.
• Family information: If the family agrees, a statement of the family's resources, priorities, and concerns related to enhancing the development of the child.
• Outcomes: a statement of the major outcomes the child and family are expected to achieve, and how progress toward the outcomes will be evaluated.
• Services: a statement of the specific early intervention services necessary to meet the unique needs of the child and the family, including the frequency, intensity, and method of delivering the services, the natural environments, the location of the services, and the payment arrangements, if any.
• Other Services: Such as medical services that the child needs but that are not required under Part C, and the funding sources to be used in paying for those services.
• Service Coordinator: The name of the service coordinator assigned to the child.
• Service Provision: The projected dates for initiation of the services and anticipated duration of services.
• Transition: A plan for transition from Part C services to preschool services under Part B, or other services that may be available to the child.

20 U.S.C. § 1436(d); 34 C.F.R. § 303.344.

        Parents must give informed written consent before services may begin. If there is not agreement on all services, only agreed upon services will be provided. 20 U.S.C. § 1436(e); 34 C.F.R. § 303.342(e). Services must be initiated "as soon as possible" after the IFSP meeting. Id. § 303.344(f). The IFSP must be reviewed at least every six months and evaluated at least annually at an IFSP meeting. 20 U.S.C. § 1436(b); 34 C.F.R. § 303.342(b) and (c). Additionally, the parents may request a review of the IFSP at any time. Id. § 303.342(b)(1).

THE TRANSITION TO SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES

        A transition plan must be developed to support and prepare the child and family for the time when the child will be too old to receive early intervention services. With parental consent, a meeting to review preschool eligibility must be held at least 90 days before the child becomes eligible for preschool special education services. If the child is not thought to be eligible for preschool special education, the district must make reasonable efforts to convene a conference among the lead agency, the family, and providers of other services to discuss the other appropriate services that the child may receive. See id. § 303.148. The parents must give permission before any records such as evaluations or the IFSP are sent to the school district. Id. C.F.R. § 303.344(h)(2)(iii). For children eligible for preschool special education, the transition planning process must include "mechanisms to ensure the uninterrupted provision of appropriate services to the child." Id. § 303.344(h)(2)(iii), Note.

THE RIGHT TO APPEAL

        Parents must be informed of their appeal or due process rights throughout the process. They are entitled to written notice a reasonable period of time before there is a proposal or refusal to "initiate or change the identification, evaluation, placement" or provision of early intervention services. 20 U.S.C. § 1439(6); 34 C.F.R. § 303.403(a). The notice must describe the action and reasons for it and include due process rights. Id. § 303.403(b). The notice must be in the native language or dominant method of communication of the parents (including sign language, braille or oral communication). Id. § 303.403(c). The parents also have the right to confidentiality of records and the right to review and inspect records concerning the child and family. 20 U.S.C. §1439(2) and (4); 34 C.F.R. § 303.402.
An appeal can be pursued to resolve disagreements concerning any matter to which the parents were entitled to notice. 20 U.S.C. § 1439(1); 34 C.F.R. § 303.420. Parents may request mediation (20 U.S.C. § 1439(8)), an impartial hearing or file a system complaint. However, if mediation is offered, it must be voluntary and cannot be used to delay or deny a parent's rights, including the right to have a decision within 30 days. 34 C.F.R. § 303.420, Note 2.

The Impartial Hearing

        Each State must develop an administrative process for resolving complaints through impartial hearings. States may adopt the due process procedures under Part B, the preschool and special education provisions. In such circumstances, the status quo protection must be provided consistent with the requirements of Part C, discussed below. States may also develop a separate administrative process, as set forth below. 34 C.F.R. § 303.420.

        Once a hearing has been requested, an impartial hearing officer will be appointed. The hearing officer must have knowledge about the law and familiarity with the needs of and services for children and their families. Id. § 303.421. The hearing officer must make a written decision, including findings of fact and conclusions of law, within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request by the early intervention agency. Id. §§ 303.421(a)(2)(ii), 303.422(b)(5), 303.423(b). A verbatim record of the hearing must be made. Id. § 303.422(b)(4).

        The hearing must be scheduled at a "time and place that is reasonably convenient to the parents." Id. § 303.423(a). Parents have the right to bring an attorney or other person with special knowledge or training on early intervention. Parents have the right to present evidence, cross-examine, and compel the attendance of witnesses. The parents have the right to exclude any evidence not disclosed to them at least five days before the hearing. Id. § 303.422(b)(3).

        Either party may file an appeal in state or federal court. In such cases, as under Part B, the court is to receive the administrative record, hear additional evidence on request and render a decision based on the preponderance of the evidence. 20 U.S.C. § 1439(1). There is no provision for attorney's fees under Part C, but such a right may exist under state law. Additionally, the rights available under Part C are potentially enforceable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, which has its own attorney's fees provision, 42 U.S.C. § 1988. See Marie O. v. Edgar, 1996 WL 48515, 14 A.D.D. 871 (N.D.Ill. Feb 02, 1996) Aff'd Marie O. v. Edgar, 131 F.3d 610 (7th Cir. 1997). (State of Illinois was not in "meaningful compliance" with then Part H, due to significant waiting lists and delays in obtaining services.)

        Once a hearing is requested, the child is entitled to receive all of the services that are not in dispute, and to continue to receive any services already being provided, until a decision is made by the hearing officer or until an appeal to court is concluded. 20 U.S.C. § 1439(b); 34 C.F.R. § 303.425. Moreover, parents have the right to decline a service or withdraw their consent to a service without jeopardizing their right to receive other services. 20 U.S.C. § 1439(3); 34 C.F.R. § 303.405.

System Complaints

        A complaint may also be filed with the lead State agency implementing Part C for individual or systemic violations. The complaint may be filed by either an individual or organization. Id. §§ 303.510, 303.511.

        Some examples of systemic violations include:

• Charging for evaluations
• Providing services without parental consent
• Refusing to consider serving children in natural settings
• Not meeting the time requirements for evaluations or developing IFSPs.

CONCLUSION

The Early Intervention Program can provide children with disabilities the services they need to get them started on the right track and minimize their need for special education services later in life. In many cases this program should be available to fund AT, particularly where no other funding source is available to purchase the equipment in question.

Assistive Technology Included in IFSPs* Under Part C:

1998: Nationally, 9274 devices and services were provided to children in the Part C age range.
State range: California had the high with 1842 devices/services provided. Oklahoma had the lowest with zero devices/services provided although quite a few states did not report during this year.

1999: Nationally, 8910 devices and services were provided to children in the Part C age range.
State range: Florida had the high with 1733 devices/services provided and Oklahoma had the low with a total of zero devices/services provided.

2000: Nationally, 9328 devices/services were provided to children in the Part C age range.
State range: Indiana had the high with 1593 devices/services provided. Massachusetts had the low with zero.

2001: Nationally, 7416 devices and services were provided to children in the Part C age range.
State range: Florida again had the high with 1506. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Alaska and Georgia tied with zero

* We cannot say for certain that the devices/services were actually provided, only that they were included on the IFSP. AT devices and services are counted once if provided to the same child.
(Data from the 1999, 2000, and 2001 OSEP Annual Report to Congress- the most current data available)

Administrative Hearings

        Matter of Anonymous (Mass. Div. of Medical Assistance 9/16/03): The Massachusetts Medicaid agency denied prior authorization for an Easy Stand 5000 Stander with a hydraulic pump at a cost of $3,115. Following a hearing, the device was approved. The hearing decision found, based on medical evidence from treating physicians that the passive standing to be afforded by the device would help maintain or increase bone density, improve bowel and bladder function, reduce incidence of skin breakdown, and increase range of motion. The appellant was represented by Jane Alper and Dale Boam of the Disability Law Center in Boston.
Matter of Anonymous (Social Security, Office of Hearings, Seattle, Wash. 10/17/03): This Medicare Part B appeal involved the denial of funding for a LightWriter augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. Although current Medicare rules, since January 2001, allow for funding of AAC devices, the device was denied under the policy in effect on the date of purchase, January 26, 2000. The hearing decision found that this AAC device "was reasonable and necessary for treatment of the beneficiary's severe communication disability, dysarthria." The appellant was represented by Michael Smith of the Washington P&A in Seattle.
For a copy of either decision, contact Wilma Castro at 716-847-0650 ext. 271 or wcastro@nls.org. If you have hearing decisions on AT issues, from any funding source, send them to the National AT Advocacy Project so that we can include them in our resource library.

Register Now for the "Bridges to Better Advocacy" Conference

        Our 8th annual "Bridges to Better Advocacy" conference, a national conference for AT advocates, will take place on March 24th, 25th, and 26th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Austin, Texas. Always a popular event, this year's conference promises to be one of our best.

        ATTEND THE 2004 CONFERENCE AT 2003 PRICES. That's right. We have kept registration fees the same as last year. Register before January 28th and take advantage of our "super early bird" special. A conference description and registration form are included as an insert to this newsletter. You can also find a conference flyer, with full session descriptions, on our website at: www.nls.org/natmain.

New Special Education Booklet Available

        Earlier this year, we published an updated version of our special education booklet, The Public School's Special Education System as an Assistive Technology Funding Source: The Cutting Edge (April 2003). It is co-authored by Ron Hager of the National AT Advocacy Project and Diane Smith of the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS), with 71 pages of text and extensive citations spanning 468 footnotes. Several copies were mailed earlier this year to each of the P&As. You can also access the booklet on our website: www.nls.org/specedat.htm or www.nls.org/pdf/special-ed-booklet-03.pdf. Contact Wilma Castro at 716-847-0650 ext. 271 or wcastro@nls.org if you would like a complimentary copy of the booklet.

NIDRR to Require PAATs to Use Web-Based Annual Reporting System

        In late September 2003, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) within the U.S. Department of Education provided a three-year grant to the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) of Raleigh, North Carolina to establish a web-based data collection system that will be used by P&A for Assistive Technology (PAAT) programs to meet their annual reporting requirements.

        RTI has subcontracted with Neighborhood Legal Services and our National AT Advocacy Project to assist in developing the form that will be used in this process. We are in turn partnering with NAPAS and a six-person national P&A working group (made up of managers, attorneys and advocates) to develop the proposed annual reporting form. After being approved by NIDRR and the Office of Management and Budget, P&As are expected to start using it in the Spring of 2005.

If you would like the AT Advocate Newsletter sent to you in a large-print or other alternative format, please let us know.

        We have designed a word-searchable digest, using computer technology, to store and retrieve hearing decisions and other administrative documents. We also have indexed more than 400 documents from more than 100 pending and decided court cases. All documents are available through our AT Resource Library. Please send us your hearing decisions, briefs and other documents involving AT.

Please send information to:
Attn.: Jim Sheldon                                                                                 TEL: (716) 847-0650
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.                                                        FAX: (716) 847-0227
Ellicott Square Building                                                                          TDD: (716) 847-1322
295 Main Street, Rm 495                                                                      e-mail: atproject@nls.org
Buffalo, NY 14203                                                                                Web Page: www.nls.org

The AT Advocacy Project will provide nationwide services to PAAT projects including technical assistance to advocates wanting to access funding for assistive technology for individuals with disabilities.

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SPECIAL INSERT

Bridges to Better Advocacy

Wednesday, March 24, 2004 (Optional)
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Friday, March 26, 2004
Crowne Plaza Hotel (formerly Sheraton Hotel)
500 North IH 35
Austin, Texas (In the heart of downtown Austin)

To view or download the complete agenda in PDF format  Click Here 
You will need the free Adobe Acrobat reader to read this in PDF format. The reader is available by following this link

Optional Pre-Conference Session
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
9:30 to 4:30

Our Traditional, Two-day Conference
Thursday-Friday, March 25-26, 2004
(see registration fee schedule and registration form)

Agenda

1:15 to 2:45 Sessions # 2 and # 3

Session # 4 - The Proposed PAAT Data Collection System: An Explanation and Presentation
Christene Tashijian, Senior Research Scientist, Research Triangle Institute, Raleigh, North Carolina & Jim Sheldon, National AT Advocacy Project

Session # 5 - Vocational Rehabilitation: An Overview for AT Advocates
Ron Hager, National AT Advocacy Project

Have you ever been faced with a situation in which large numbers of people with disabilities are the victims of an arguably illegal practice by a national industry? It may be a good case for a class action lawsuit, but such cases are expensive, potentially lengthy and inevitably uncertain. Use of a negotiating strategy that gives the potential defendant an opportunity to correct the wrong over a period of time, working cooperatively, minimizing conflict and sparing both sides litigation can yield positive results without litigation. Everything depends on the selection of issues and defendants, and on the approach taken. This session provides an account of the use of "structured negotiations" to achieve ATM access for Americans who are blind, and gives an insight into identifying other settings where the approach may prove viable.

Continuing Legal Education Credits will be Available

REGISTRATION FORM – "Bridges to Better Advocacy"

Name:_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Title:_____________________________________________ Agency:________________________________________________

Address:________________________________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip:___________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: (      )________________________ Fax: (      )________________________ Email:________________________________

Standard Registration Fee Includes:  Lodging at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Austin, TX, Continental Breakfasts, Lunches, Thursday Dinner and Entertainment, and handouts.

*Standard prices are for double occupancy packages.  For single occupancy, please add $75 per night to the price.  For special packages including an additional night, or if you plan on staying overnight on April 1, please contact Wilma Castro at (716) 847-0655 ext. 271.  All hotel reservations must be made through Neighborhood Legal Services.  The Crowne Plaza Hotel will not be able to guarantee the same room pricing otherwise.

Please Select Room Preference:    q Smoking       qNon-Smoking

First Night of stay: (please state dates)_______________________ Last Night of Stay:_________________________

Roommate Preference:_________________________________________________________________________________

Pre-conference choice:          q Introduction to Medicaid                   q Introduction to Special Education

Reasonable Accommodation Requests  (DEADLINE: March 12, 2003):  (please state accommodation request below)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please Include Payment with Registration and Mail to:

Wilma Castro    •    Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.    •    295 Main St.  Rm. 495    •    Buffalo NY 14203

Phone: (716) 847-0655 ext 271    •    Fax: (716) 847-0227    •    Email: wcastro@nls.org