So you think something might be going on with your child,but you are not sure where to turn. Here are your options for seeking help for your child.
Early Intervention : Ages Birth to 3
If you would like to have your child evaluated for any developmental delays, and your child is between the ages of Birth to 3 years, you may contact your local Early Intervention Program. Early Intervention Programs are city and state programs regulated and funded by each state's Department of Health.
School District : Ages 3 and older
If your child is 3 or older, than you should contact your local school district. The school district, after an evaluation of your child, determines if your child is eligible for preschool special education services. After an evaluation, they will discuss the results of their tests with you and give you information about your rights. If your child is eligible, their services will be provided through an Individual Education Program (IEP). Visit this link to get a detailed description of the IEP Process (http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/IEP.html)
Private Insurance : All Ages
If you have insurance, and they confirm you have coverage for childhood developmental delays, you may contact an approved local pediatric clinic that will provide comprehensive therapy services. When your child reaches the age of 3, you have the option to continue private therapy along with any services you may qualify for through your School District. However, if your child does not qualify for any School District Services, you may still continue with your private therapy.
Dawn's Seeking Help Story
I have used all three processes. Early Intervention was wonderful to get my intital evaluation, and begin services. However, there is a lot of paperwork involved, and often times you have to wait a few weeks to get schedules coordinated, which can be frustrating when you want to start helping your child today. I eventually was able to transition out of Early Intervention and begin to use our private insurance because they started to cover childhood developmental delays. This meant, I didn't have to wait to get anything approved, and we could attend therapy more often, as well as start additional therapies that we needed but did not qualify for through Early Intervention. Now that my son is 3 he is in the process of getting his IEP to attend the special education preschool in his school district, while continuing his private therapy. Through all the processes, I have had nothing but wonderful, supportive people wanting to help my children and to make sure the best steps are taken for them.
Kelly's Seeking Help Story
Like Dawn, I also have used all three of these processes. We started off with Early Intervention (EI). At first, EI was a little frustrating because it took a couple months from the first point of contact with their office until my son actually began receiving services. Once we started services everything was going great. He loved his therapists. They all came to our house to give him therapy. Since my son qualified for so many services, we actual saved more money through EI than through private insurance. The day he turned 3, by policy, EI ended. The next day he started at a special needs preschool. The transition from EI to preschool was very scary for me. I was going through all this blind. I didn’t know anyone that had been through special education preschool and EI. I thought after EI everything was over. I kept saying I wish I knew about SPD sooner. I wish I got him into EI sooner. He was making a lot of progress with all the therapies and I thought he might not get the same out of school. But I was wrong!! It wasn’t the end, it was only the beginning. He has grown leaps and bounds since starting school. Like his EI therapists, his teachers truly understand him and he is thriving because of it. On top of preschool he goes to private therapy clinic in our area (which is covered by our insurance). We have become so close with the therapists, and they have helped so much since EI ended that I only need to ask my son if he is ready to go see "therapist’s name" and he lights up with joy.
Please check our EI Contact Tab to find your Early Intervention Contact Information.
