About Early InterventionAbout Early Intervention

What is it?

What is the goal?

What are the benefits to my child and family?

How do children get placed in the program?

What is it?What is it?

The early intervention program is funded through a combination of federal and state money. It is mandated as a part of the federalSpecial Education law ensuring free, appropriate, public education for all students, regardless of their ability.

The program is divided into two parts, one which provides servicesfor children Birth to 3 years old, and the other for children 3 andOlder (up to the time of school enrollment). In South Dakota, services in both programs are provided by the same teachers andtherapists.

Services that are availableServices that are available

Physical therapy – focuses Physical therapy – focuses on large muscle groups on large muscle groups and movementand movement

Occupational therapy – Occupational therapy – focuses on small muscle focuses on small muscle groupsgroups

Speech/Language therapy Speech/Language therapy – focuses on elements of – focuses on elements of speech and speech and communicationcommunication

Early Childhood Instruction Early Childhood Instruction – focuses on cognitive – focuses on cognitive skills, problem solving, and skills, problem solving, and general readinessgeneral readiness

Where are services Where are services provided?provided?

HomeHome DaycareDaycare PreschoolPreschool SchoolSchool

Our goal is to make it as easy as possible Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for your child to receive services.for your child to receive services.

What do services ‘look’ like?What do services ‘look’ like?

Specific activities are designed to Specific activities are designed to meet your child’s needs, abilities, meet your child’s needs, abilities, and ageand age

Activities are dependent on which Activities are dependent on which service provider is working with your service provider is working with your childchild

Play is an important component of Play is an important component of ALL therapy sessions – this is the way ALL therapy sessions – this is the way children learn bestchildren learn best

What is the goal?What is the goal?

The goal of our program is that all The goal of our program is that all children will use their abilities to the children will use their abilities to the fullest potential. This is achieved fullest potential. This is achieved through:through:

opportunitiesopportunities experiencesexperiences guidance and instruction guidance and instruction

What are the benefits?What are the benefits?

Statistics show that the earlier a child Statistics show that the earlier a child receives intervention, or help, the more receives intervention, or help, the more successful he will be in the long run.successful he will be in the long run.

Parents can get new ideas for ways of Parents can get new ideas for ways of helping the child and family cope with helping the child and family cope with the problemsthe problems

Families can get more information on Families can get more information on the the

What are the benefits?What are the benefits?

child’s specific issues and needs, and child’s specific issues and needs, and upcoming conference or workshop upcoming conference or workshop opportunitiesopportunities

Families can get help accessing Families can get help accessing programs such as respite care or programs such as respite care or other support servicesother support services

How do children get placed in How do children get placed in the program?the program?

Referral is received by the school Referral is received by the school districtdistrict

Evaluations are conducted, with Evaluations are conducted, with parent authorizationparent authorization

A meeting is held to discuss results A meeting is held to discuss results and optionsand options

The child begins receiving services, The child begins receiving services, with parent approvalwith parent approval

ReferralReferralAnyone who knows a child and has concerns Anyone who knows a child and has concerns

about the growth and development can about the growth and development can make a referralmake a referral

ParentsParents DoctorsDoctors Daycare providersDaycare providers Family membersFamily members

ReferralReferral

When a referral is made to the school When a referral is made to the school district, service providers will contact district, service providers will contact the the

family. The child will be observed in family. The child will be observed in various environments, and it will be various environments, and it will be determined if the child should be determined if the child should be tested, pending parent permission. tested, pending parent permission.

EvaluationsEvaluationsThe school service team will determine The school service team will determine

what areas of a child’s development to what areas of a child’s development to be assessed. These may include:be assessed. These may include:

Cognitive development (thinking skills)Cognitive development (thinking skills) Behavior and Emotional DevelopmentBehavior and Emotional Development Motor skills (involving muscles)Motor skills (involving muscles) Speech and LanguageSpeech and Language

EvaluationsEvaluations Adaptive behavior (how the child is Adaptive behavior (how the child is

able to get his needs met in his able to get his needs met in his environment)environment)

Evaluations will include standardized tests Evaluations will include standardized tests (which compare the child to other children (which compare the child to other children his age), observations of the child, his age), observations of the child, checklists of activities he is able to do, and checklists of activities he is able to do, and parent comments.parent comments.

Placement MeetingPlacement Meeting Parents, therapists, teachers, and school Parents, therapists, teachers, and school

administration meetadministration meet Evaluation results are discussed and team Evaluation results are discussed and team

members make recommendations about if members make recommendations about if services are recommended services are recommended

The team decides what, if any, special The team decides what, if any, special education the child will receiveeducation the child will receive

The team writes desired goals for the child The team writes desired goals for the child to work on for the current yearto work on for the current year

Important facts to Important facts to rememberremember

Parents have the right to say yes or Parents have the right to say yes or no to any services or testing the no to any services or testing the team recommendsteam recommends

Evaluations by school personnel and Evaluations by school personnel and services are provided to parents at services are provided to parents at no cost no cost

Parents are the child’s first teachers! Parents are the child’s first teachers!

Important facts to Important facts to rememberremember

Therapists and service providers are Therapists and service providers are not here to judge your child, family not here to judge your child, family or parenting skills, but to offer or parenting skills, but to offer suggestions of new things to try or suggestions of new things to try or different ways of doing thingsdifferent ways of doing things

If you have questions…If you have questions…

Call your local school districtCall your local school districtTalk to your doctor or county health Talk to your doctor or county health

nursenurseCall the South Dakota office of Early Call the South Dakota office of Early

Intervention: 800-529-5000Intervention: 800-529-5000Visit these websites for further information:

Kidsource USD Global Early Intervention Network

Family Village- This site has more links