Appendix D to Part 57 - The DoD-AP

A. Membership

(1) The DoD Advisory Panel on Early Intervention and Special Education shall meet as needed in publicly announced, accessible meetings open to the general public and shall comply with DoD Directive 5105.4. The DoD-AP members, appointed by the Secretary of Defense, or designee, shall include at least one representative from each of the following groups:

(i) Persons with disabilities.

(ii) Representatives of the Surgeons General of the Military Departments.

(iii) Representatives of the family support programs of the Military Departments.

(iv) Special education teachers from the DoD school system.

(v) Regular education teachers from the DoD school system.

(vi) Parents of children, ages 3 through 21 years, inclusive, who are receiving special education from the DoD school system.

(vii) Parents of children, ages birth through 2 years, inclusive, who are receiving EIS from EDIS.

(viii) Institutions of higher education that prepare early intervention, special education, and related services personnel.

(ix) Special education program managers from the DoD school systems.

(x) Representatives of the Military Departments and overseas commands, including providers of early intervention and related services.

(xi) Representatives of vocational community, or business organizations concerned with transition services.

(xii) Other appropriate persons.

(2) A majority of panel members shall be individuals with disabilities or parents of children, ages birth through 2 years, inclusive, who are receiving EIS from EDIS and children, ages 3 through 21 years, inclusive who are receiving special education from the DoD school system.

(3) The DoD-AP members shall serve under appointments that shall be for a term not to exceed 3 years.

B. Responsibilities

(1) Advise the USD(P&R) of unmet needs within the Department of Defense in the provision of special services to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities.

(2) Advise and assist the Military Departments in the performance of their responsibilities, particularly the identification of appropriate resources and agencies for providing EIS and promoting inter-Component agreements.

(3) Advise and assist the DoD schools systems on the provision of special education and related services, and on transition of toddlers with disabilities to preschool services.

C. Activities

The DoD-AP shall perform the following activities:

(1) Review information about improvements in service provided to children with disabilities, ages birth through 21, inclusive, in the Department of Defense.

(2) Receive and consider comments from parents, students, professional groups, and individuals with disabilities.

(3) Review policy memoranda on effective inter-Department and inter-Component collaboration.

(4) Review the findings of fact and decisions of each impartial due process hearing conducted under appendix G of this part.

(5) Review reports of technical assistance and monitoring activities.

(6) Make recommendations based on program and operational information for changes in policy and procedures and in the budget, organization, and general management of the programs providing special services.

(i) Identify strategies to address areas of conflict, overlap, duplication, or omission of services.

(ii) When necessary, establish committees for short-term purposes comprised of representatives from parent, student, professional groups, and individuals with disabilities.

(iii) Assist in developing and reporting such information and evaluations as may assist the Department of Defense.

(iv) Comment publicly on rules or standards about EIS for infants and toddlers, ages birth through 2 years, and special education of children with disabilities, ages 3 through 21 years, inclusive.

(v) Perform such other tasks as may be requested by the USD(P&R).

D. Reporting Requirements

(1) Submit an annual report of the DoD-AP's activities and suggestions to the DoD Coordinating Committee, by July 31 of each year.

(2) That report is exempt from formal review and licensing under section 5 of DoD Instruction 7750.7