Have you heard of early intervention before?
Maybe your child is in it, your friend’s baby or your doctor has mentioned it.
I have worked in early intervention for about 7 years in 3 different states.
Although early intervention is a federal special education program…it is run differently depending on the state in which you live in.
In this article I will go over some of the basic information you will want to know about early intervention services for infants and toddlers.
What is early intervention?
Who are early intervention services for?
Early intervention services are for babies and toddlers from birth to 3 years old that are showing developmental delays, are at high risk for a delay, or have a condition that is diagnosed that can cause a delay.
How much does early intervention cost?
In the United States, all parents have the right to receive a FREE developmental screening or evaluation upon request.
In some states, services are completely free once a child qualifies in others you may have to pay a small fee.
Who do I contact if I want my child to be evaluated?
Depending on who your state runs their Early Intervention Program this could vary.
Some states go through the school system while others may go through the Department of Human Services.
If you are not sure then Google your state’s name and birth to three early intervention.
You can also check here to find out information about how to contact your state’s program.
Their contact information should come up.
If not then you could always as your pediatrician as they should know it as well.
What does an evaluation for early intervention services look like?
Most of the time evaluation just looks like play!
The evaluators can usually get all their information that way.
They may bring out a big of toys or an evaluation kit to help them get your child playing in a way they can observe certain skills.
Observation of your child is also usually part of the process.
They may also ask you simple questions about your child to get a better picture of them as well.
How long does an early intervention evaluation take?
Most of the time an evaluation will take place over 2 to 3 visits. Each session is no longer than an hour.
They use the child’s signals and cues to guide how long each session should take place.
Where do early intervention evaluations take place?
Most often the evaluation will take place in your home.
However, it someone else provides child care they may want to complete part of the evaluation there.
There are times when they may want to bring them to an evaluation room or classroom to complete parts of the assessments as well.
Who completes an early intervention evaluation?
It will take at least 2 or more people to complete the evaluation.
The staff that participates will vary depending on your child’s needs. It could be:
- Teacher
- Occupational Therapist
- Special Education Teacher
- Speech Pathologist
- Physical Therapist
- Psychologist
- Others
What happens after evaluation?
Typically there will be a meeting to discuss whether or not your child meets the eligibility requirements for your state’s early intervention programs.
Each state has its own set of criteria so this could vary from one state to the next.
My child met eligibility…now what?
If your child meets the requirements for eligibility then they will create an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
This plan will contain all the information about what services will look like for your child. It will contain goals, service times, and what providers will be working with your child.
You can read more about the IFSP document HERE.
My child didn’t meet the requirements….now what?
If your child did not meet eligibility and you still have concerns ask if there is a follow-along program available in your state that your child could participate.
There may be other resources within your community to get help if you need it as well.
What will a visit with early intervention look like?
Every visit is different as every child is different.
Your service provider will work with you and your child in order to best meet their needs.
Most of it will just look like play or they will work on how to incorporate strategies into what you do already every day.
They may bring toys or activities to do with your child or they may just use what you have available in your home.
What do I do during the visit?
Participate!
As an early interventionist, I can say that having the parent be active in the visit is so IMPORTANT!
Feel free to ask questions or make comments about what is going on during the visit.
When I do visits with families my goal is to help the parent become empowered in helping their child meet their goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is early intervention important?
Early intervention is important because it can help support young children who have developmental delays or have high risks in their life that could impact them.
We know that the brain is growing a lot in those first 3 years of life.
There are many positive outcomes when babies, toddlers, and families are supported.
You can read more about those HERE.
How long does early intervention last?
This varies from one child to the next.
Children will progress at different rates so some may stay in the program for a short burst of services while others may stay in longer.
All children must exit the program by their 3rd birthday.
If there are still concerns with the child they will be addressed with Part B Special Education Services which you can read more about HERE.
Does early intervention help autism?
Children that are displaying autistic behaviors or have been diagnosed with autism may benefit from participating in early intervention programming.
You can learn more about the benefits of early intervention for children that have autism HERE.
What should I do if I have concerns about my child’s development?
You should call early intervention services in your area or speak with your pediatrician.
Always trust your gut and ask for help if you have concerns.
Grab your FREE Milestone Guide HERE.
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Kayla O’Neill has a master’s degree in education as well as a bachelor’s degree in special education with an emphasis in early childhood education. She has been working as a developmental therapist with babies and toddlers in early intervention since 2012. She is also a mom with two young children.