What Should You Do If You Have Concerns About Your Child’s Development?
Most parents, especially first-timers, rely on milestone development charts, online parenting sources, friends and family, and their pediatrician to help them understand the core skills and behaviors their child should be reaching – week by week, month by month – as they grow. Milestones, such as your baby holding their head up while lying on their tummy during their first month, are a checkpoint to help you identify any potential developmental delays or disabilities. It’s important to remember that each child develops at their own pace so may exhibit a skill a week early or late as milestones mark the month that most babies start a certain behavior or ability for that age.
If you are concerned that your child may have a developmental delay or disability, what should you do?
First, schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician for a developmental screening. Based on those results, your healthcare provider may refer your child to one or more specialists, such as a hearing specialist, speech therapist, neurologist, or a provider of Early Intervention services like Babies Can’t Wait.
However, navigating and obtaining Early Intervention services for children from birth through five years of age who may have developmental delays, disabilities or other challenges can be overwhelming and confusing for many parents. In Georgia, children under three years of age must be referred first from a healthcare provider to Children 1st to Babies Can’t Wait to begin receiving services.
Once a child is preschool age, Babies Can’t Wait will refer them to a Local Education Agency (LEA). Children suspected of having disabilities who are not receiving special education services and support from the LEA may be referred by parents, child-care providers, early regular childhood providers, or other individuals.
What are Early Intervention services?
Early Intervention is a general term for support, resources and services that are provided to young children from birth to five years of age who have been diagnosed with, are suspected to have, or are at risk of developmental delays, disabilities, or other challenges. Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all eligible children ages birth to 36 months, regardless of their disability, have access to services that will enhance their development.
Early Intervention Services include things like assistive technology, physical therapy, behavioral interventions, family training and counseling, occupational therapy and much more.
How will Early intervention Services benefit my child?
When a developmental delay is not identified early and a child does not receive the help they need right away, it can make it hard for them to learn and even make developmental delays worse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that Early Intervention services can change a child’s developmental path and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities.
Watch our recent webinar, Accessing Early Intervention and Special Needs Services, to learn more about the process to have your child evaluated and begin receiving interventions.
If your child is eligible for Early Interventions, do you have to send your child to a specific child care program?
Parents can choose to send their child to a traditional child care program or one that specializes in working with children with special needs and disabilities. It’s important to know that child care programs cannot refuse admission of a child to its program because of a disability. The program is required to evaluate the child’s needs and determine if and what accommodations can be made for that specific child. Then parents can then determine if that program will benefit their child.
When looking for child care, all parents have the same questions: How do I start my search? What questions do I ask? Why is the quality of a program important? You can find answers to those questions here and more information and resources below geared for families with children with special needs.
What to Look For & Questions to Ask During Your Child Care Program Visits:
Is the physical space (inside and outside), materials and equipment set-up where it is accessible for my child? How can it be adapted to fit my child’s needs?
What is the adult involvement in peer interactions?
How will the program support my child’s interests and actively engage them in individual and social play activities?
What can we expect from the teacher when it comes to conflict resolution?
How will the teacher include my child and make them feel a part of the community? Will group activities be adapted so my child can participate?
Are the teachers qualified for special-needs education?
Is there a space for my child to have therapy work if needed?
More information:
Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s Georgia SEEDS for Success
