What is Early Intervention?

Key Principles of Early Intervention (EI) Services 

▪ Infants and toddlers learn best through everyday experiences and interactions with familiar people in familiar contexts. 

▪ All families, with the necessary supports and resources, can enhance their children’s learning and development. 

▪ The primary role of a service provider in EI is to work with and support family members and caregivers in children’s lives. 

▪ The EI process, from initial contact through transition, must be dynamic and individualized to reflect the child’s and family members’ preferences,  learning styles, and cultural beliefs. 

▪ Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) outcomes must be functional and based on children’s and families’ needs and family-identified priorities.

▪ The family’s priorities, needs and interests are addressed most appropriately by a primary service provider (PSP) who represents and receives team and community support. 

▪ Interventions with young children and family members must be based on explicit principles, validated practices, best available research, and relevant laws and regulations. 

Purpose of Early Intervention Services 

▪ Assist families of eligible infants and toddlers to support their children in attaining age-appropriate developmental levels, 

▪ Recognize the significant brain development that occurs during a child’s first three years of life, 

▪ Enhance the capacities of families to meet the special needs of their infants and toddlers, 

▪ Minimize the potential for further developmental delays, 

▪ Reduce the educational costs to society by minimizing the need for. special education and related services at school age, and  

▪ Maximize the potential for independent living in society. 

Services Available 

Services and/or Specialists that may be available to your child and family include: 

• • Early Childhood Special Educator (ECSE) 
  • Speech-language Pathology/Audiology services, Sign/Cued Language services (SLP)
  • Occupational Therapy (OT)
  • Physical Therapy (PT)
  • Psychological services 
  • Medical services as needed for diagnostic or evaluation purposes
  • Early identification, assessment, and evaluation 
  • Health services  
  • Vision services 
  • Assistive technology – devices & services
  • Transportation and related cost to facilitate participation