Working with Early Intervention
From the experience of a parent with a child on the spectrum
If your child is under three years of age and has been diagnosed with ASD, or you suspect that there may be a developmental problem, contact the Early Intervention (EI) service provider in your state right away. If you can’t locate your local early intervention office, call your school district or local elementary school for the right phone number.
Early Intervention is a family service program for infants and toddlers up to three years old that either have developmental delays or are at high risk for developing them. Under the Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), your child with ASD and your whole family must be provided with EI services. Cost for services varies from state to state. Some provide all EI services for free where others have a cost share program that is based on family income.
The EI Process
- Get a referral. If you suspect your child may have a developmental disorder, you can contact your early intervention office to request an evaluation. Or, you can get a referral from your child’s doctor or teacher. Once your child’s evaluation request has been made, an EI service coordinator will contact you to explain the process of getting your child screened, evaluated and treated.
- Get evaluated. Before your child can be eligible for EI services, he must undergo a series of evaluations to confirm that he has ASD, and to find out exactly what his developmental delays and challenges are. You must give signed consent before your child can be evaluated.
Evaluations are done by professionals with experience diagnosing developmental disabilities, such as speech/language therapists, occupational therapists, and learning specialists. Your child’s needs and suspected disabilities will dictate the amount and type of evaluations that are performed. The results from these evaluations will be used to determine exactly which services are recommended for your child.
- Create an IFSP. If your child is found to be on the spectrum, EI will work with you to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). This is a written document that details your child’s special needs and the services that will be provided at no cost to your child and family. For autism spectrum disorders, these services might include ABA,, speech, occupational and physical therapies, as well as parent counseling and training to help your child function at home and in the outside world. Educational settings can include home treatment programs or special pre-schools.
You will be invited to a special meeting where you will collaborate with your child’s evaluators and EI service coordinator to create the IFSP.
The IFSP includes:
- Your child’s current levels of functioning
- Goals and objectives
- Specific services to help your child
Services vary state to state, but generally,the location of your child’s treatment services depends on your child’s needs. Services can be held in your home or at a local pre-school, day care center, or center-based program.
IFSP participants may include: a representative from the Early Intervention agency, EI specialists (i.e. speech therapist, occupational therapist, etc), a school psychologist and a parent advocate. You have the right to invite any specialists to the IFSP meeting who you feel can provide insight to your child’s condition and developmental needs.
By law, your first IFSP meeting must take place within 45 days of your initial referral.
The IFSP can be updated as necessary. You, as a parent, don’t have to wait until your annual meeting. You can request periodic reviews where you can request changes in your child’s services.
If you are not satisfied with the services being recommended for your child’s IFSP, by all means speak up! You are your child’s advocate and know his needs better than anyone.
Tips to Help You Get What You Want
- Don’t let your child’s case fall through the cracks. If an EI service coordinator doesn’t get back to you within a week of your first phone call, call back or follow up with a letter. The sooner early intervention steps in, the sooner your child can get help.
- Share all your observations about your child. Evaluators need to know about all of your child’s issues and deficits so they can make sure your child gets the right help. Don’t hide or down play symptoms. Studies show parents’ suspicions about their children’s health often prove accurate, so make sure you share all your thoughts and worries.
- You have the right to a second evaluation. If you feel your child’s evaluation is inaccurate, you can request a new evaluation. Read all evaluations thoroughly and make sure they paint a clear picture of your child’s development.
- Find out what services are available ahead of time. Before your IFSP meeting, research your families’ available service options so you know what to ask for.
- Treat the IFSP like a business meeting. Come prepared with questions, notes, and all your child’s medical records and evaluations.
- You can disagree without being disagreeable. Remember that this is a collaborative process, and hopefully, everyone has your child’s best interests in mind. Speak up, be persuasive and clearly state your desires for your child’s program.
- Don’t sign anything you don’t agree with. It’s not mandatory that you sign the IFSP document created at the meeting. You have the right to take it home and mull it over. If you don’t agree with parts of the IFSP, call your EI coordinator and try to work out a resolution. If this isn’t possible, you have the right to request mediation or a due process hearing.
You can also refer to the IEP helpful tips section for other suggestions on how to make your ISFP meeting a success!