WHAT IS EARLY INTERVENTION?Early intervention is a state-run program that provides support and services for families with young children (aged 0-6 years); who have developmental delays or disabilities. Developmental disabilities can be physical, cognitive, communicative, social/emotional, and adaptive. Often, developmental disabilities might fall into more than one of these categories as they relate to one another in complex ways.
A team consisting of Early Intervencionist and an Interpreter will provide Family Training and Services Coordination when necessary, therapy will be added to the child’s plan as needed as well. The team aims to integrate these services into the family’s daily life; in a way that causes as little disruption as possible for the child. They develop a rapport with the family and form a professional relationship to aid as much as possible. Because the State and Federal Governments fund Early Intervention Services, the services are free for any families residing in South Carolina that need them. Congress created the current Early Intervention Program in 1986 when they reauthorized the Education of All Handicapped Children Act. They intended this legislation to reduce the impact of developmental delays and disabilities in young children and their families, maximizing their potential for independent living. |
WHAT SERVICES DOES EARLY INTERVENTION PROVIDE?The first step in Early Intervention is to assess the child’s developmental milestones. The team compares the child’s development to the development of their peers and the team checks if the child meets standardized developmental milestones. For example, a parent might wonder when their child should be crawling or become worried when the child is not crawling yet. If the evaluation reveals the need to continue with Early Intervention Services. The team then proceeds to interview their guardians or direct caregivers using an evaluation tool to assess concerns, priorities, and resources.
The next step in the process is to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). The team and the family work together to make decisions about how to proceed. Some examples of decisions made in the planning stage include:
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