Investigate Early Intervention

Early Interventions are services for infants and toddlers that are designed to identify and treat a motor delay as early as possible. Early intervention services are offered through a public or private agency and are provided in different settings, such as the child's home, a clinic, a neighborhood daycare center, a hospital, or the local health department.

Early intervention services can range from prescribing glasses for a two-year-old to developing a complete physical therapy program for an infant with cerebral palsy.

We recommend you make an immediate appointment with your child’s doctor. Don’t wait for the next well-baby appointment if you are concerned. Your doctor will evaluate and assess your child’s development and prescribe therapy services if necessary.

If at any time you have questions about this process, please contact us. Our parents have walked the walked and are here to help you in any way possible. Please call 1-800-955-CHILD.

Seeking a therapist yourself:

You may also seek an evaluation from a therapist in your area. Click here to find a Neurodevelopmental trained therapist near you.

Your state's early intervention system:

You may also take the route of working with your state’s Early Intervention System. Each state has an Early Intervention System. Click here for a list of all state’s contact information.

To find out who can help you in your area, explain that you want to find out about early intervention services for your child, and ask for a name in your area. Explain that you think your child may need early intervention services, and you would like to arrange for an evaluation and assessment.

Evaluation refers to the procedures used to determine if a child is eligible for early intervention services. Assessment refers to the ongoing process of gathering and using information about how a child is developing and determining what kind of help he or she might need.

In regard to your child, this information may come from some or all of the following:

• Doctors' reports
• Results from developmental tests given to your child
• Your child's medical history
• Observations and feedback from all members of the multidisciplinary team, including parents
• Any other important observations, records, and/or reports about your child

A team of medical professionals will conduct a full assessment of your child free of charge. Depending on your child's eligibility, most therapy services will also be of no charge to you.