Lincoln is unusual among Nebraska cities in that Lincoln Public Schools runs its own Early Development Network office rather than routing under a separate regional planning area — Lancaster County's EDN region explicitly carves out LPS families for this reason. School-age evaluations run through the district's Student Services department, backed by Educational Service Unit 18, which supports LPS with specialized staffing districts of its size still need extra help to provide.

For longer-term disability supports, Lincoln families work with DHHS's Division of Developmental Disabilities through its Southeastern Service Area office, located in the city. This page lists the referral numbers and web pages behind each of those, drawn from Nebraska state and Lincoln-area sources.

Statewide programs, numbers, and rights are on the Nebraska page. This page adds the local entry points that are specific to Lincoln (Lancaster County).

Early intervention under 3: Nebraska Early Development Network (EDN) — Lincoln Public Schools office

Nebraska's Part C system, the Early Development Network, is co-administered by the state's Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, but Lincoln is set up differently from most cities: rather than falling under the surrounding Milford Planning Region, Lincoln Public Schools operates its own EDN Services Coordination office for families whose children live within the district. A family, physician, or child care provider can call directly to start a referral for a child under three showing a developmental delay.

• Nebraska Early Development Network (EDN) — Lincoln Public Schools office
• Referral phone: 402-436-1920

New to early intervention? Read the plain-language guide first.

School districts and special education

Lincoln Public Schools' Student Services department coordinates special education, evaluation, and related services for the district's students; a family who suspects a disability starts by contacting Student Services directly. Educational Service Unit 18 partners with LPS to deliver specialized services, including a state grant-funded program supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing students across more than 20 surrounding districts, so families sometimes interact with both LPS and ESU 18 staff.

• Lincoln Public Schools — Student Services 402-436-1905; district serves roughly 6,600 students receiving special education
• Educational Service Unit 18 — regional education service unit partnering with LPS on specialized staffing and services, comparable to a BOCES or education cooperative elsewhere

IEP or 504 · If you disagree with the school

Evaluation and diagnosis pathways in Lincoln

We have not yet verified a hospital or university evaluation program with public intake information in Lincoln. That is a gap in our research, not a sign there is nothing here — and it does not stand between you and an evaluation. The school district evaluation above is free, and early intervention under 3 does not need a private diagnosis first.

How assessment works · What to do while you wait

Disability services and waivers: Nebraska DHHS — Division of Developmental Disabilities, Southeastern Service Area

DHHS's Division of Developmental Disabilities keeps its Southeastern Service Area office in Lincoln, covering Lancaster County along with Butler, Cass, Fillmore, Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Platte, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, and York counties. The office coordinates case management and, once a family applies through the state's iServe portal, connects them toward a family support, day services, or comprehensive Medicaid waiver based on a needs assessment.

• Nebraska DHHS — Division of Developmental Disabilities, Southeastern Service Area
• Phone: 402-310-3815

Local organizations that help Lincoln families

We have not yet verified a local parent organization in Lincoln. Statewide help still covers you: the Nebraska guide lists the federally funded parent center and the free disability rights organization for the whole state, and both take calls from families anywhere in Nebraska.

Documented waits and access notes

Wait times change. Each note below links to the public source it came from — confirm current status directly with the program.

• State Department of Education guidance holds LPS Student Services to whichever deadline arrives first — 45 school days or 60 calendar days — counted from the date a Lincoln parent signs consent for an evaluation. (source)
• Because LPS runs its own Early Development Network office rather than routing through a regional planning area, it still answers to the statewide 45-calendar-day rule for completing evaluation and holding the first IFSP meeting after a referral. (source)