Definition 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:
health services needed to prepare and help the child to benefit from any of the services listed here
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:
be the primary and final decision maker for the child
have services including a complete evaluation and assessment
a determination of their child's eligibility
early identification of problems
assistance through this process
If a child is eligible, a parent/caregiver also has the right to:
an individual plan for their child
a social worker or other coordinator to assist them
agree or disagree with the services offered and the time and number of services
refuse some services but still receive others
participate in all meetings concerning their child
receive timely notice of any changes of services, meeting dates, and people attending the meetings
receive any notices or documents in the language used in their home
A parent/primary caregiver may also:
review any written records
be informed about who else can see these records
challenge and correct any wrong information in the records
be aware of any individual complaint concerning their child
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.
Author: Joy Householder, RN, CCM Reviewer: Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN Last Updated: 02/14/01 Contributors Potential conflict of interest information for reviewers available on request
