Special Education Guide

  • Special Education Career Paths
    • Behaviorist
    • Early Intervention Specialist
    • Educational Diagnostician
    • Instructional Assistant
    • Special Education Administrator
    • Special Education Teacher
  • Teacher Certification
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • District of Columbia
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Master’s in Special Education Programs
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • District of Columbia
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming

Find us on:

  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • About This Site
  • Read Our Blog

The Steps in Early Intervention (IDEA Part C)

FIND SCHOOLS
1
2
3
4
Sponsored Content

Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)

Sponsored School(s)

All school search, finder, or match results, as well as colleges and universities displayed as "Featured School(s)" or "Sponsored Content" are advertisers that compensate us for placement on this site. The resources, editorial content, and school evaluations published on this site are developed independent of the schools that advertise here.
Grand Canyon University Logo
Grand Canyon University
Featured Program: B.S. in Elementary Education / Special Education and M.Ed. in Special Education
Request Info
Purdue University Logo
Purdue University
Featured Program: Online MSEd in Special Education
Request Info
Liberty University Logo
Liberty University
Featured Program: (B.Ed.) in Special Education, M.A.T. in Special Education, and Doctoral Curriculum and Instruction – Special Education
Request Info
George Mason University Logo
George Mason University
Featured Program: Master's and Graduate Certificate Programs in Special Education
Request Info
Arcadia University Logo
Arcadia University
Featured Program: Online Graduate Certificate in Autism
Request Info
Regis University Logo
Regis University
Featured Program: Earn your M.Ed in Special Education Licensure, MAE in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education and more at Regis University. Build your skills to teach students with the greatest needs.
Request Info
Arizona State University Logo
Arizona State University
Featured Program: Special Education, MEd
Request Info

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that mandates that all states must provide children, including those with disabilities, with a free, appropriate public education (FAPE). Part C of IDEA provides for early intervention (EI) services for at-risk children from birth to their third birthdays. EI services assist young children with atypical physical, cognitive, communication, adaptive and social or emotional development. IDEA further mandates that EI services must be provided by qualified personnel, in natural environments and at no cost to the families (except where states provide for a system of payment, such as a sliding scale).

A Family-Based Approach

Services must be provided in a “natural environment”: a setting that is comparable to those provided to children without disabilities. Preference is given to services provided within the child’s community and home. This idea of natural environments also supports IDEA’s requirement that EI services have a family-based approach.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

The idea behind EI is that supporting the family as well as the child is crucial to the child’s success. For example, EI services might consist of training family members to safely feed a child with hypotonia (poor muscle tone).

Steps in the Early Intervention Process

Identification or Referral

Parents may refer their children for EI, or a professional (i.e. a pediatrician) may identify them as requiring services through Child Find. To refer your child, contact your state’s EI or early childhood disability services program (not all states use the term “early intervention”). Each state administers its own EI program, and specific policies, terminology and procedures vary. There isn’t necessarily a single agency in each state that is responsible for administering EI. Instead, contact your state’s education agency; a representative can point you in the right direction. You can also ask your local school district about EI contact information, even though your child may not be enrolled there yet.

Tell the EI representative that you wish to refer your child for EI services. The representative may ask you some questions about your child’s development. By law, the representative must either refer or decline your child for an evaluation within two days.

Parental Consent

As a parent, you must grant written consent for evaluations and services. At any time, you may withdraw this consent.

Assessment

Your child will undergo evaluations by a team of qualified professionals. The evaluation team might consist of a psychologist, neurologist, speech-language pathologist (SLP), physical therapist (PT), occupational therapist (OT) or other professional, depending on the particular areas of concern for your child.

Don’t worry about your child undergoing a battery of intimidating tests; the professionals on the team are experienced in working with young children. As EI is a family-based approach, the professionals will also interview you and other family members, with their permission.

Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)

If the evaluations determine that your child is eligible for services, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team will meet. The IFSP is a written document that defines your child’s areas of concern and details the services that your entire family will receive. It also defines goals for your child’s development. You will be part of the team of professionals that will develop the IFSP, and your input will be highly impactful.

IFSP Review

By law, the IFSP must be reviewed every six months to make changes as needed. You may request an additional review at any time.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

Transition

Transition planning begins prior to your child’s third birthday. The team may determine that your child no longer requires services. Or, your child will transition from an IFSP to an individualized education program (IEP) upon reaching his third birthday.


Our site does not feature every educational option available on the market. We encourage you to perform your own independent research before making any education decisions. Many listings are from partners who compensate us, which may influence which programs we write about. Learn more about us


Copyright © 2013-2023 Special Education Guide. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

Related Pages

  • Early Identification: How the Child Find Program Works
  • Tackling Behavior and Social Skills Sooner Than Later
  • The Role of the Parent in Early Intervention
  • The Who, What, Why of an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP)
  • Masters Degrees
  • Teacher Certification
  • Career Paths
  • Early Intervention
  • Pre-K to 12
  • Disability Profiles

Recent Articles

  • Is Special Education Teaching Right for You?
  • Give Students with Print Disabilities Access to Free Ebooks
  • How to Help Students and Families with Transition Planning
  • Closing the Gap: Moving Mountains Without Lowering Expectations
  • 9 Tips for Special Education Teachers Becoming Administrators