Children with Special Needs

Early Intervention

The Early Intervention Program is for infants and toddlers from birth to age three who have developmental delays and disabilities. The purpose of the program is to ensure that those children identified as having a delay or disability receive the services needed to maximize their developmental potential. Services include but are not limited to:

Full developmental evaluations

Physical, Speech & Occupational Therapy

Service Coordination

Audiological Evaluations

Teacher Service

Vision Services

Medical/Diagnostic Evaluations

Reimbursement for respite services

Child Find

Child Find is a part of the Early Intervention program and is responsible for tracking children from birth to three who are at risk for developmental delays. The main focus of the program is to ensure that each child has a primary health care provider who can complete periodic developmental screenings and offer developmental tracking using periodic parental questionnaires. Children may be at risk for developmental delays due to the following:

Absence of health insurance

Gestational age less than 33 weeks

Chronic ear infections

Low birth weight (less than 3.3 lbs)

CNS insult or abnormality

Maternal age less than 16

Growth deficiency

Suspected hearing loss or visual impairment

Jaundice

Maternal PKU

Parental Developmental Delay

Muscle tone abnormalities

Children With Special Health Care Needs

Children With Special Health Care Needs is a referral and advocacy program for children from birth to 21 who have or are suspected of having a serious chronic physical, developmental and/or emotional condition who require health or related services. This program can help families by:

Acting as advocate with health care providers

Obtaining information about various programs

Acting as advocate with school districts

Making referrals as needed

Physically Handicapped Children´s Program

The PHC Program is for children from birth to 21 who have or are suspected of having a serious or chronic physical condition and who require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that typically required by children. This program can help families access insurance; set up diagnostic testing and evaluations; offset medical bills; and pay for hearing aids and other durable medical equipment. The PHC Program can also pay for up to three diagnostic evaluations to rule out certain conditions including but not limited to hearing loss; heart defects; neurological problems; some vision defects; and Cerebral Palsy.

3-5 Preschool Special Education Program

The program´s single point of entry is through your local school district. This program is for children ages three to five who have developmental delays and disabilities. The purpose of this program is to maximize a child´s developmental and educational potential prior to the start of kindergarten. Services include:

Educational and Physical Evaluations

Special Education Services

Physical, Speech and Occupational Therapy

Transportation

All referrals for the 3-5 evaluations should be made by contacting your local school district.