Ohio Early Intervention
Provide support to children with developmental disabilities and their families in order to enhance learning.
Early Intervention is a statewide system that provides coordinated services to parents and caregivers who feel their infant or toddler may be behind others their age or have concerns their child should be walking, talking, or meeting other milestones they have not yet met. Infants and toddlers learn best through everyday experiences and interactions with familiar people in familiar contexts. All families, with the necessary support and resources, can enhance their children’s learning and development. To benefit from Early Intervention, your child does not have to have a diagnosed disability. This program is open to families of infants and toddlers who have disabilities or are showing some signs of delayed development for their age.
Early Intervention fulfills the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C (Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities). It is a program of the Ohio Department of Disabilities.
WHO WE SERVE
Parents and caregivers with concerns regarding their child’s development can have their infant or toddler evaluated by an interdisciplinary team at absolutely no cost to the family. Children are evaluated for delays in the areas of adaptive, cognitive, communication, physical, and social-emotional development using appropriate diagnostic tools. Should intervention be deemed necessary, individualized services are provided to the child and family through a Service Coordinator. They guide the family through every aspect of the process, from program entry until the child transitions out by age three. The intervention process is dynamic and individualized to reflect the family’s preferences, priorities, learning styles, and cultural beliefs.
We work with children ages 0-3 and their families to create a coordinated plan called an Individualized Family Service Plan. Our intervention team will first do an assessment of your child to determine their eligibility and their level of need. From there, by sharing your interest, priorities, and needs with your Early Intervention Service Coordinator, you will set goals for your child’s progress that best fit with your family’s everyday life. Our intervention team will ensure that the family’s and child’s rights are protected, advocate for the family, and coordinate supportive services for them.
children served each year