Children with disabilities aged infant to 21 are entitled to educational services under the federally mandated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act  (IDEA).  which ensures that all children with disabilities have available to them a “free appropriate public education” that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.

Infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities ages 0-3 are eligible for Early Intervention Services under the IDEA.

Starting at age three, Individualized Education Programs (IEP) are developed for children.  An IEP is a written statement of the educational program designed to meet a child’s individual needs. The IEP focuses on long term goals and objectives which are determined by an assessment and evaluation. A multidisciplinary team, including the child’s parents, develops the IEP. If a child needs a related service (e.g., occupational therapy, language therapy) to receive a free appropriate public education, it must be provided at no cost to the parents.

Each state has at least one federally funded Parent Training and Information Center that provides information, training, and advocacy to parents concerning their child’s right to a free appropriate public education.

Early intervention is the term used to describe services that reach a child early in his or her development, usually from birth through age three. Intervention is vital during this very early time because a child learns and develops at the fastest rate during these first few years.  It’s important not to miss out on this crucial part of your child’s development, as it may be more difficult to teach skills to your child as he or she gets older.

Broadly speaking, early intervention services are special services designed to identify and meet a child’s needs in five developmental areas:

• Movement (physical development)
• Learning (cognitive development)
• Interaction (communication development)
• Behavior (social or emotional development)
• Adaptive development (use of existing skills)

Examples of early intervention services include medical services, physical and occupational therapy, and assistive technology devices. A service can be as simple as prescribing glasses for a two-year-old or as complex as developing a complete physical therapy program for an infant with cerebral palsy. The goal is always to help the child achieve the highest possible functioning and interaction at home and in the community. An early intervention program can also provide support and guidance to your family.