Early Childhood Intervention

The early years is a vital time for children. This period lays the foundation for all future development.

For children with disabilities and developmental delays the early years are just as important.

Moreover for a child with a delay or disability the early years are critical for the whole family.

Families can begin to learn how to support and nurture their child, how to meet their child’s needs, and how to adapt positively and support their child with a disability or a developmental delay.

Children may need the assistance of professionals and therapy for a variety of reasons. There are several types of specialists that can assist and treat your child if there is a concern or a diagnosis. Professionals that a child may require depends on the needs of the child and family.

A team of allied health professionals such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists along with pediatrician’s, paediatric specialist doctors work with children who have an identified need.

We will focus on the allied health professionals of the speech therapist, physiotherapist and occupational therapist.

Early intervention is key. A formulated coordinated approach will assist a child to reach their full potential. The earlier a child is receiving the help of a professional the better the outcome for the child.

Early Childhood intervention provides specialized support for infants and young children who have developmental delays or disabilities & their families.

Early Childhood Intervention otherwise known as ECI . Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS) supports children from birth through to school entry.

Early Childhood Intervention is considered to be in the early years of a child, from birth to school aged and is made up of services and/or therapy based on the individual needs of the child.

The main aim of seeking early intervention is to promote the child’s development and inclusion.

Early Intervention services work with the family and develop an Individualized Family Service Plan via the qualified team of professionals.

Services are tailored to meet the individual needs of the child and focused on supporting the child in their natural environments and in their everyday experiences and activities. Which service is needed depend upon the individual child’s needs and disability or delay.

ECIS can be in the form of:

• Service planning and coordination
• Counselling
• Support to access services such as kindergarten and child care
• Therapy
• Information and parent education
• Individualized support designed to meet the individual needs of the child and support them in their natural environments, and everyday experiences and activities

In order to best access early intervention services a diagnosis of a disability or delay allows for a specific child led approach although, you don’t need a diagnosis to access services.

Speak with your Dr or Pediatrician about any concerns you have. Your Dr may be able to determine if there are developmental delays and guide you to the most appropriate services.

A good early intervention service/program includes regular assessments to monitor how your child is progressing.

Early interventions can be delivered in a variety of places- the home, a childcare centre (preschool, long day care, etc), a hospital or an specialized early intervention centre.

It can be and can include a range of professionals:

• Speech pathologists.
• Occupational therapists.
• Physiotherapists
• Counselling.
• Psychologists.
• Social workers
• Service planning. This includes getting help with services and accessing the most applicable services.
• Health services.
• Specialists and Dr.
• Inclusion services.
• Audiologists.
• Education and support.
• Help with the transition to school for children from birth to school entry. For a child with a delay or disability school aged may not be when they enter actually enter the school environment. It is based on their individual situation rather than age related.

If a child has been diagnosed with a delay, impairment or disability which affects their development such as, but limited to the list below, they are likely to access some form of Early Intervention service to provide additional support and assistance.

• A speech delay
• A physical, delay or disability.
• A sensory delay or disability.
• A intellectual delay or disability.
• A behavioural impairment.
• A vision impairment.
• A hearing impairment.
• Cerebal Palsy
• Autism Spectrum Disorder.

There are many benefits to accessing the services for early intervention.

Research has shown that the earlier a child with/or at risk of disabilities receive assistance through early intervention the sooner the child and their family is able to receive support towards their child’s development and the more positive the outcomes.

It also has benefits of (not necessarily seen by all children):

• Provides a targeted specific program individualised for each child.
• Improving both developmental, social, and educational gains;
• Reduce the future costs of special education, rehabilitation and health care needs;
• Reduce feelings of isolation, stress and frustration that families may experience;
• Help alleviate and reduce behaviours by using positive behaviour strategies and interventions; and
• Help children with disabilities grow up to become productive, independent individuals.

The best place to start is through your Dr, pediatrician or other parents.

• Community health centres.
• Hospitals
• Specialist disability services.
• Early intervention services.