Early intervention

Early intervention is a system of services that helps babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Early intervention focuses on helping eligible babies and toddlers learn the basic and brand-new skills that typically develop during the first three years of life, such as:

• Physical (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking);
• Cognitive (thinking, learning, solving problems);
• Communication (talking, listening, understanding);
• Social/Emotional (playing, feeling secure and happy);
• Self-Help (eating, dressing).

Examples of early intervention services | If an infant or toddler has a disability or a developmental delay in one or more of these developmental areas, that child will likely be eligible for early intervention services. Those services will be tailored to meet the child’s individual needs and may include:

• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech and language services
• Early Childhood Special Education
• Counseling and training for a family
• Assistive technology (devices a child might need)
• Nutrition services

Who’s eligible for early intervention?

Early intervention(Phase I)is intended for infants and toddlers who have a developmental delay or disability. Eligibility is determined by evaluating the child (with parents’ consent) to see if the little one does, in fact, have a delay in development or a disability. Eligible children can receive early intervention services from birth through the third birthday (and sometimes beyond).

For some children, from birth

Sometimes it is known from the moment a child is born that early intervention services will be essential in helping the child grow and develop. Often this is so for children who are diagnosed at birth with a specific condition or who experience significant prematurity, very low birth weight, illness, or surgery soon after being born. Even before heading home from the hospital, this may be given a referral to ourcentre

For others, because of delays in development

Some children have a relatively routine entry into the world, but may develop more slowly than others, experience set backs, or develop in ways that seem very different from other children. For these children, a visit with a Developmental Pediatrician, Family Physcian, Department of Neonatelogy, Child Guidance Clinic and a thorough evaluation may lead to an early intervention referral.

Parents don’t have to wait for a referral to early intervention, however. If you’re concerned about your child’s development, you may contact directly and ask to have your child evaluated.

However a child comes to be referred, evaluated, and determined eligible, early intervention services provide vital support so that children with developmental needs can thrive and grow.