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. 2011 May 24;3(1):19-30.
doi: 10.5195/ijt.2011.6071. eCollection 2011 Spring.

Telerehabilitation: an adjunct service delivery model for early intervention services

Jana Cason  1
Affiliations

Telerehabilitation: an adjunct service delivery model for early intervention services

Jana Cason. Int J Telerehabil. .

Abstract

Early Intervention (EI) services for children birth through two years of age are mandated by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); however, personnel shortages, particularly in rural areas, limit access for children who qualify. Telerehabilitation has the potential to build capacity among caregivers and local providers as well as promote family-centered services through remote consultation. This article provides an overview of research related to telerehabilitation and early intervention services; discusses the feasibility of telerehabilitation within traditional EI service delivery models; examines telecommunications technology associated with telerehabilitation; and provides hypothetical case examples designed to illustrate potential applications of telerehabilitation in early intervention.

Keywords: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C; Telerehabilitation; children; early intervention services; infants; toddlers.

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References

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Additional Resources

    1. American Occupational Therapy Association’s Position Paper on Telerehabilitation, http://media.americantelemed.org/ICOT/AOTA%20telereh05.pdf.
    1. American Physical Therapy Association’s Position on Telehealth, http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=67435&TEMPLAT....
    1. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association ’s Position Statement on Telepractice http://www.asha.org/docs/html/PS2005-00116.html.
    1. American Telemedicine Association http://www.americantelemed.org.
    1. American Telemedicine Association’s A Blueprint for Telerehabilitation Guidelines, http://www.americantelemed.org/files/public/standards/ATA%20Telerehab%20...; also available at http://telerehab.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/Telerehab/article/view/6063/6293.