Special Education/EIS

All states and territories must provide early intervention services to children who have, or are at risk for having, developmental delays, from birth to their third birthday.

Most CONUS locations, local school districts or health departments provide these early intervention services. The program is called different names in different areas, but it is often referred to as Part C because that is the section of the law that pertains to early intervention. The Education Directory for Children with Special Needs has a list of resources specific to each state to help you determine who you should contact. Your installation EFMP Family Support provider can also answer your questions.

If you are moving OCONUS or to a CONUS location with a DODEA school (and you live on installation), your child will receive EIS through the Defense Department’s Educational and Developmental Intervention Services, or EDIS, program.

When moving, you should hand carry copies of your child's most current individual family service plan, or IFSP, and the most current evaluation reports to your new home to ensure they are not lost.

All states and territories provide special education and related services to eligible children between the ages of 3 through 21.

When a child transfers to a different district in the same state, the new school must provide a free, appropriate public education, including comparable services, until the previously held IEP is adopted or a new one is developed and implemented. When a child transfers to another state, the receiving school must provide comparable services until an IEP review can determine if a new evaluation or IEP is appropriate.

If you are moving and your child receives special education and related services, you should hand carry all necessary school and medical documents, including the most current IEP and current evaluation reports. Hand carrying these documents ensures that they are not lost and allows the new school to begin the process as soon as you arrive.

• Education Directory for Children with Special Needs
• EFMP & Me digital tool
• Individualized Education Program & Moving
• Special Needs Parent Toolkit
• Special Needs Resources
• Exceptional Family Member Program videos

Educational and Developmental Intervention Services (EDIS) programs were established within the Department of Defense to fulfill the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1342.12, Provision of Early Intervention Special Education and Related Services to Eligible DoD Dependents, directs the military medical departments to provide Educational and Developmental Intervention Services.

The EDIS program on Kadena AB is a service offered through US Naval Hospital Okinawa that provides support to eligible children and families to maximize children’s potential to learn and become successful adults. EDIS works with to children and families ages birth to 21 years of age through Early Intervention(EI) in the home and community, and Related Services(RS) in the schools.

Early Intervention Services is to support families in their efforts to support their children's growth, development, and learning. Children age birth to three years with a qualifying medical diagnosis or developmental delay are eligible to receive EI services. Referrals to EDIS can come from medical providers or the families themselves.

Related Services is providing physical and occupational therapy as part of a child’s individualized educational plan(IEP) as part of the school’s special education program. The special education team (CSC) makes the referral for EDIS’s involvement in school-based therapy services.

The EDIS staff comes from a variety of fields to include: audiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, psychology, and early childhood special education.

For more information contact Kadena EDIS Program Manager at DSN: 315-634-2747.