Early Intervention Services
Early Intervention Services refer to services provided by government agencies to infants and toddlers with disabilities. Specifically, the services target families with children 3 years old or younger who have demonstrated or potential developmental delays. This group includes children with known physical, emotional, or mental disabilities that will probably lead to delay in their development.
What is the information for this topic?
What are Early Intervention Services?
In 1986 the US Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Public Law 102-119), also called IDEA. The purpose of this law was to help the individual states provide services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, and their families. Early assistance for these children can improve their development. Each state must have a system for delivering these Early Intervention Services. Services can include the following:
Who qualifies for Early Intervention Services?
The children who qualify are those who are known to have delayed development. Also included are those who have a physical or mental condition that will probably result in developmental delay. The delay can be in 1 or more of the following areas:
The states MUST serve children who have these delays or who have a condition that will probably result in delay. They MAY serve other children who are at risk of developmental delay.
What if a parent/primary caregiver has questions about their child’s development?
Usually the child’s healthcare provider can answer any questions about child development. If a person has no healthcare provider, each state has a program to screen infants and toddlers for developmental disabilities. In some states the program is called Healthy Families, or maybe Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.
What happens when a child is 3 years old?
If a child is still considered developmentally delayed at 3 years of age, services are still available. They might be provided by a different state agency. In some states, a written plan is made for moving a child to the next agency. This is called a transition plan. This plan is prepared by one of the professionals working with a parent/caregiver for a child’s benefit. The caregiver will be involved as this plan is prepared. The school district may also be involved in this transition plan. Some testing may be done to decide if a child is ready for preschool special education services.
What rights does a parent/caregiver have under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?
They have the right to:
If a child is eligible, a parent/caregiver also has the right to:
A parent/primary caregiver may also:
A parent/caregiver has the right to confidentiality regarding personal information about the child and family. They can ask, and have the right to know, how confidentiality is protected. They have the right to give written consent for any screening, evaluation, written plan, services, and sharing of information.
Article type: xmedgeneral