Importance of Early Intervention and Education

The Importance of Early Intervention and Education

The time period between the ages of birth to five is the most critical period in child development. The brain grows at a remarkable rate and neurological pathways are being created in all developmental areas. Most children, given opportunities and interactions develop in typical patterns and at a rate that fall within a normal range.

There are children who do not follow the expected trajectory for a number of reasons, many of which are unknown. The importance of providing appropriate and high quality intervention during this time can not be overstated. It is essential that children in need of early intervention and education receive these services. Early Intervention is specialized services for children ages 0-3.

Here in Milton services for children from ages 3-5 are included in the Milton Early Education Program located at the Milton Elementary School, our publicly funded preschool. If you have any concerns about your preschool age child's development, in the areas of communication, behavior, motor skills, thinking, playing, social/emotional, interaction or self help skills, staff at the Milton Early Education Program is available to provide screenings and evaluations at no cost. These screenings can be done at home, childcare setting or at the school. If it is determined that your child is in need of services, they are available through the program as well. Services provided in preschool can help immensely when children enter Kindergarten. The Milton Early Education program is accredited by the National Association of Young Children and has achieved 5 Stars from the Department of Children and Families. The teachers and speech therapists who work within the program are all master level teachers and the support staff is highly trained. Consultation from physical and occupational therapists are available if needed as well.

As one parent states “My daughter attends the EEE preschool program in Milton and we have had a great experience. The teachers and support staff are extremely knowledgeable and helpful in evaluating her and determining a plan to educate her in a manner that is suited to her needs. It’s so important to catch things early on in your child’s development, the earlier the better. I would highly recommend discussing any concerns you may have with the educators at EEE! ~Deb Robinson “

It is equally, if not more, important to receive Early Intervention (EI) Services for children ages birth to 3 if they are needed. Evaluations for EI services are provided by school staff. Services can include speech/language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, developmental education and behavioral support. Services for children under the age of 3 occur at home, childcare or playgroup settings. The services are provided through staff at Vermont Family Network and the Visiting Nurses Association. Children under the age of 3 are eligible for services if there is an observable and measurable delay in development or if the child has a diagnosed medical condition, this including prematurity (birth prior to 32 weeks gestation). All children who enter the foster care system with documentation of abuse or neglect are also eligible for an evaluation.

The follow are excerpts from an essay written by Nell Solleder, a parent of a child with special needs. “When my son was first diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, there was a possibility that he might not speak. He had only two words in his vocabulary at the of 18 months. Many people even told me to wait and not worry about this (boy am I glad that I never took this advice). I strongly believe that our lives would be very different if Early Intervention was never introduced to my son.

Ages 0-3 is a critical time for cognitive development in a child (and is also a very crucial period for Early Intervention). Cognitive development slows down as the child gets older and it becomes more challenging for a child to acquire new skills and knowledge. Especially when they are behind! To all the parents out there, if you choose to not have Early Intervention services provided for your child due to the fear of labeling, think about the challenges your child will encounter as they grow older. Imagine what life will be like for your child when they are behind in skills, cognitive development, and language. It will be a much more difficult road ahead for your child and your family.

Early Intervention will provide services and resources to help you with issues related to the disability. Early Intervention will provide the education your child needs to help with their disability and help them be more successful in school. With the fantastic help of our early intervention team, my son has certainly come along way. He has gone from saying 2 words to speaking in descriptive and complete sentences! My worries of him not speaking are long gone. Research has proven that early intervention can help reduce the symptoms of the disability. There is even a possibility that the symptoms may completely go away depending on the severity. Early Intervention will help your child become caught up on their fine and gross motor skills, cognitive development, and language. Your child will be ready to start kindergarten and will have a better chance of succeeding in school. With general education being inclusive, children today are a lot more accepting of others than children who went to school over 30 years ago. Set the labels aside and do what’s best for your child, It’s your child’s future. Early intervention is a great approach to help your child with their disability or disorder, and gives your child the opportunity they deserve to succeed in school.”

Another parent has this to say about the importance of Early Intervention and Education. Sarah Metcalf writes about her son Brandon. “Brandon came to us at about 3 weeks old. As he outgrew the newborn stage and started to become more of an infant it was apparent that he was not typically developing. He was significantly delayed all across the board in every area of development. Brandon was referred to the early intervention program and was evaluated. He qualified for Early Intervention services, then PT services and then OT services all in his first year of life. Later he also qualified for speech therapy. We worked with him with no other expectation than that of one that he will be everything he can be. As time went on he caught up and then even began to even out as average.

Last fall when he turned 3 he was still eligible for speech therapy and was able to enter the EEE preschool at the elementary school to receive his services. The teachers there were meeting Brandon for the first time and thought he was a delightful 3 year old. He has since tested out of services with skills far exceeding his age!

So I tell you... if you were NOT a believer in what early intervention can do for a child I am here to tell you that I have living proof in a 3 year old that if you believe in your child that child can far exceed your expectations!”

The Center for Disease Control offers these guidelines for typical developmental milestones. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html Please note that you do not need a referral from a physician to request an evaluation.

Early Intervention and Education is effective and is essential for children with developmental delays. If you have any questions about your child's development and would like to speak to the Milton Early Education Staff please call us at 893-3215 ext 1425 or email Jennifer Knowles at jknowles@mtsd-vt.org or Shelley Henson at shenson@mtsd-vt.org