---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 U.S.C. § 1432"
title: "20"
title_heading: "Education"
number: "1432"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/20/1432"
units:
  - "Chapter 33 — Education of Individuals with Disabilities"
  - "Subchapter III — Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities"
---

# §1432. Definitions


In this subchapter:

- (1) **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](#3) if [early intervention services](#4) were not provided to the individual.
- (2) **Council—** The term “council” means a [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) interagency coordinating council established under [section 1441 of this title](/usc/20/1441.md).
- (3) **Developmental delay—** The term “developmental delay”, when used with respect to an individual residing in a [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31), has the meaning given such term by the [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) under [section 1435(a)(1) of this title](/usc/20/1435.md?p=a-1).
- (4) **Early intervention services—** The term “early intervention services” means developmental services that—
  - (A) are provided under public supervision;
  - (B) are provided at no cost except where Federal or [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) law provides for a system of payments by families, including a schedule of sliding fees;
  - (C) are designed to meet the developmental needs of an [infant or toddler with a disability](#5), as identified by the [individualized family service plan](/usc/20/1401.md?p=15) team, in any 1 or more of the following areas:
    - (i) physical development;
    - (ii) cognitive development;
    - (iii) communication development;
    - (iv) social or emotional development; or
    - (v) adaptive development;
  - (D) meet the standards of the [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) in which the services are provided, including the requirements of this subchapter;
  - (E) include—
    - (i) family training, counseling, and home visits;
    - (ii) special instruction;
    - (iii) speech-language pathology and audiology services, and sign language and cued language services;
    - (iv) occupational therapy;
    - (v) physical therapy;
    - (vi) psychological services;
    - (vii) service coordination services;
    - (viii) medical services only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes;
    - (ix) early identification, screening, and assessment services;
    - (x) health services necessary to enable the infant or toddler to benefit from the other [early intervention services](#4);
    - (xi) social work services;
    - (xii) vision services;
    - (xiii) [assistive technology devices](/usc/20/1401.md?p=1-A) and [assistive technology services](/usc/20/1401.md?p=2); and
    - (xiv) 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 described in this paragraph;
  - (F) are provided by qualified [personnel](/usc/20/1451.md?p=b), including—
    - (i) special educators;
    - (ii) speech-language pathologists and audiologists;
    - (iii) occupational therapists;
    - (iv) physical therapists;
    - (v) psychologists;
    - (vi) social workers;
    - (vii) nurses;
    - (viii) registered dietitians;
    - (ix) family therapists;
    - (x) vision specialists, including ophthalmologists and optometrists;
    - (xi) orientation and mobility specialists; and
    - (xii) pediatricians and other physicians;
  - (G) to the maximum extent appropriate, are provided in natural environments, including the home, and community settings in which children without disabilities participate; and
  - (H) are provided in conformity with an [individualized family service plan](/usc/20/1401.md?p=15) adopted in accordance with [section 1436 of this title](/usc/20/1436.md).
- (5) **Infant or toddler with a disability—** The term “infant or toddler with a disability”—
  - (A) means an individual under 3 years of age who needs [early intervention services](#4) because the individual—
    - (i) is experiencing [developmental delays](#3), as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures in 1 or more of the areas of cognitive development, physical development, communication development, social or emotional development, and adaptive development; or
    - (ii) has a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in [developmental delay](#3); and
  - (B) may also include, at a [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31)’s discretion—
    - (i) at-risk infants and toddlers; and
    - (ii) children with disabilities who are eligible for services under [section 1419 of this title](/usc/20/1419.md) and who previously received services under this subchapter until such children enter, or are eligible under [State](/usc/20/1401.md?p=31) law to enter, kindergarten or [elementary school](/usc/20/1401.md?p=6), as appropriate, provided that any programs under this subchapter serving such children shall include—
      - (I) an educational component that promotes school readiness and incorporates pre-literacy, language, and numeracy skills; and
      - (II) a written notification to [parents](/usc/20/1401.md?p=23) of their rights and responsibilities in determining whether their child will continue to receive services under this subchapter or participate in preschool programs under [section 1419 of this title](/usc/20/1419.md).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 632, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2744.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1432, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 632, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101, June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 106, set out definitions for this subchapter, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446.

Another prior section 1432, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 632, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 184; Pub. L. 98–199, §§ 3(b), 11, Dec. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 1358, 1371; Pub. L. 99–457, title III, § 309, Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1168; Pub. L. 100–630, title I, § 104(c), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3298; Pub. L. 101–476, title IV, § 402, title IX, § 901(b)(143), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1132, 1148; Pub. L. 102–119, § 25(b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 607, related to grants to State educational agencies and institutions for traineeships, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 105–17.