Toddler digs sand at a playground.Accurate and updated information as of July 2021

Early intervention services are to be provided in natural environments to the maximum extent appropriate for the child and for the EI service itself.

So–what’s considered a “natural environment”? What isn’t? This webpage focuses upon answering these questions and on connecting you with resources of additional information and best practice.

 Back to top

IDEA’s Definition of “Natural Environment”

Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities receive needed early intervention services in natural environments to the maximum extent appropriate. The 2011 regulations for Part C define the term as follows:

§303.26 Natural environments.

Natural environments means settings that are natural or typical for a same-aged infant or toddler without a disability, may include the home or community settings, and must be consistent with the provisions of §303.126.

That’s a straightforward, easily understood definition–with the exception of how it ends (“…must be consistent with the provisions of §303.126”). What might the provisions of §303.126 require?

highly rated graphic with star and blue ribbon, which indicates that this resource has been highly rated by CPIR's review team of staff at Parent Centers from all regions of the country Let’s have a look. Here they are:

§303.126 Early intervention services in natural environments.

Each system must include policies and procedures to ensure, consistent with §§303.13(a)(8) (early intervention services), 303.26 (natural environments), and 303.344(d)(1)(ii) (content of an IFSP), that early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities are provided—

 (a) To the maximum extent appropriate, in natural environments; and

(b) In settings other than the natural environment that are most appropriate, as determined by the parent and the IFSP Team, only when early intervention services cannot be achieved satisfactorily in a natural environment.

Combining these two sets of provisions makes it clear that early intervention services:

  • must be provided in settings that are natural or typical for a same-aged infant or toddler without a disability to the maximum extent appropriate;
  • may be provided in other settings only when the services cannot be achieved satisfactorily in a natural environment.

Back to top

Who Decides Where Services Will Be Provided?

The Part C regulations also make it clear that the IFSP team determines the appropriate setting for providing early intervention services to a child or toddler. The IFSP team may determine that a service will not be provided in a natural environment only “when early intervention services cannot be achieved satisfactorily in a natural environment.”

Note | IFSP team refers broadly to the group of people who write the child’s individualized family service plan (IFSP). More specifically, as described in the Part C regulations:

  •  The child’s parents are members of the IFSP team. They may invite other family members to participate on the team as well (if it’s feasible to do so). They may also request an advocate or person from outside the family to participate on the team.
  • The IFSP team must include two or more individuals from separate disciplines or professions, one of which must be the family’s service coordinator.
  • The IFSP team must also include a person or persons directly involved in conducting the evaluations and assessments of the child and family.
  • As appropriate, people who will be providing early intervention services to the child may also serve on the IFSP team. (§303.343)

This, then, is the group of well-informed individuals that makes the decision as to where early intervention services will be provided to the baby or toddler.

Back to top

On What Basis Does the Team Decide the Setting?

The short answer |  The IFSP team decides where each EI service will be provided based on the measurable results or measurable outcomes expected to be achieved by the child. Those results or outcomes have been identified by the IFSP team and listed in the IFSP.

The longer answer | Again, the Part C regulations provide the necessary guidance. At §303.344(d)(1)(ii)(B), the regulations state:

(B) The determination of the appropriate setting for providing early intervention services to an infant or toddler with a disability, including any justification for not providing a particular early intervention service in the natural environment for that infant or toddler with a disability and service, must be—

(1) Made by the IFSP Team (which includes the parent and other team members);

(2) Consistent with the provisions in §§303.13(a)(8), 303.26, and 303.126; and

 (3) Based on the child’s outcomes that are identified by the IFSP Team in paragraph (c) of this section… [emphasis added]

An example | The Department of Education provides an example of how it may not always be practicable or appropriate for an infant or toddler with a disability to receive an early intervention service in the natural environment based either on the nature of the service or the child’s specific outcomes. The Department states:

For example, the IFSP Team may determine that an eligible child needs to receive speech services in a clinical setting that serves only children with disabilities in order to meet a specific IFSP outcome. When the natural environment is not chosen with regard to an early intervention service, the IFSP Team must provide, in the IFSP, an appropriate justification for that decision. (76 Fed. Reg. at 60205)

 Back to top

What Must Be Included about Natural Environments in the Child’s IFSP?

The Part C regulations indicate that the IFSP must include:

…A statement that each early intervention service is provided in the natural environment for that child or service to the maximum extent appropriate …

or…

a justification as to why an early intervention service will not be provided in the natural environment. [§303.344(d)(1)(ii)(A)]

If the IFSP team determines that an early intervention service will not be provided in the natural environment, it must document in the IFSP the justification for why not–in other words, “why the alternative service setting is needed for the child to meet the developmental outcomes identified for the child in his or her IFSP” (76 Fed. Reg. at 60205).

Back to top

Two Points from the Department of Education

When the Department of Education released the 2011 Part C implementing regulations, it included the often fascinating Analysis of Comments and Changes. The Department’s discussion of “natural environments” includes two very interesting and illuminating observations we’d like to share with you.

Why not include a list of settings considered “natural environments” and those not considered “natural environments”? | The Department declined to add a fuller list of settings that may be considered (or would not be considered) “natural environments.” The current regulations only mention that natural environments “may include home and community settings.” Why did the Department decline including a fuller list? According to the Department:

“It would not be appropriate or practicable to include a list of every setting that may be the natural environment for a particular child or those settings that may not be natural environments in these regulations.

In some circumstances, a setting that is natural for one eligible child based on that child’s outcomes, family routines, or the nature of the service may not be natural for another child….

[T]he decision about whether an environment is the natural environment is an individualized decision made by an infant’s or toddler’s IFSP Team, which includes the parent…” (76 Fed. Reg. at 60157-60158)

Are clinics, hospitals, or a service provider’s office considered “natural environments”? | A very good question, you must admit! Here’s the Department’s response:

We appreciate the commenters’ requests for clarification as to whether clinics, hospitals, or a service provider’s office may be considered the natural environment in cases when specialized instrumentation or equipment that cannot be transported to the home is needed.

Natural environments mean settings that are natural or typical for an infant or toddler without a disability….We do not believe that a clinic, hospital or service provider’s office is a natural environment for an infant or toddler without a disability; therefore, such a setting would not be natural for an infant or toddler with a disability.

 However, §303.344(d)(1) requires that the identification of the early intervention service needed, as well as the appropriate setting for providing each service to an infant or toddler with a disability, be individualized decisions made by the IFSP Team based on that child’s unique needs, family routines, and developmental outcomes. If a determination is made by the IFSP Team that, based on a review of all relevant information regarding the unique needs of the child, the child cannot satisfactorily achieve the identified early intervention outcomes in natural environments, then services could be provided in another environment (e.g. clinic, hospital, service provider’s office). In such cases, a justification must be included in the IFSP… (76 Fed. Reg. at 60158)

Back to top

Resources of More Information on Natural Environments

Natural environments.
From the IFSP Web module. Gives examples, what the law says, and principles and beliefs about natural environments.
http://www.ifspweb.org/module3/natural-environments.php

7 key principles: Looks like/Doesn’t look like.
https://ectacenter.org/~pdfs/topics/families/Principles_LooksLike_DoesntLookLike3_11_08.pdf

Early intervention in natural environments: A 5-component model.
http://cms-kids.com/providers/early_steps/Training/documents/early_intervention.pdf

Tele-intervention and the routines-based model.
Note: The Routines-Based Model of Early Intervention (Birth to Five Years) is a method of providing supports to children with disabilities and their families that focuses on functioning in children and on meeting families’ needs. Numerous countries, states, and programs are implementing this evidence-based model.
http://naturalenvironments.blogspot.com/2020/03/tele-intervention-and-routines-based.html

From selected National Professional Associations.

Natural environments in early intervention services.
A fact sheet from the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy.
https://pediatricapta.org/includes/fact-sheets/pdfs/Natural%20Env%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

Natural environments for infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.
From ASHA, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
https://www.asha.org/aud/Natural-Environments-for-Infants-and-Toddlers/

Occupational therapy in early intervention: Helping children succeed.
From the American Occupational Therapy Association.
https://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-Therapy/Professionals/CY/Articles/Early-Intervention.aspx

Back to top
________________________________________________________

**Highly Rated Resource!

This resource was reviewed by 3-member panels of Parent Center staff working independently from one another to rate the quality, relevance, and usefulness of CPIR resources. This resource was found to be of “High Quality, High Relevance, High Usefulness” to Parent Centers.
________________________________________

Would you like to visit another page in the Early Intervention Suite of pages?

Back to top