Early Intervention Service Providers
Early intervention is a system of support and services for babies and toddlers with developmental delays and/or disabilities. The following is a list of services often available to help your child learn and develop, with a focus on giving your family the tools and resources you need to support your child’s success.
Audiology: Professionals who evaluate your child’s hearing and provide support for hearing loss, including hearing aids. They help your family understand how to support your child’s listening and communication development.
Counseling: A licensed professional who provides emotional support and guidance to your family. This helps you and your family cope with the challenges and stress that can come with raising a child with a developmental delay or disability.
Developmental Intervention: Specialists who focus on your child’s overall development, including play, learning, and self-help skills. They teach you strategies to encourage your child’s development during everyday activities and routines.
Marriage and Family Therapy: A therapist who works with the whole family to improve communication and relationships. This helps create a supportive and healthy home environment for your child’s development.
Nutrition: A professional who assesses your child’s eating habits and provides guidance to your family on proper nutrition. They help address any feeding difficulties or dietary concerns to ensure your child grows strong and healthy.
Occupational Therapy: Therapists who help your child develop skills needed for daily living, such as mealtime, dressing, and playing. They work with you to adapt your home and routines to better support your child’s independence.
Orientation and Mobility (O&M): Specialists who teach children who are blind or have low vision how to move safely and confidently through their environment. They support your family with strategies and techniques to help your child explore and interact with their surroundings.
Physical Therapy: Therapists who work with your child on their gross motor skills, like rolling, crawling, and walking. They teach you exercises and techniques to help your child move and explore their environment.
Psychological Services: Professionals who evaluate and address your child’s emotional and behavioral development. They also provide counseling to the family to help you understand and respond to your child’s needs.
Service Coordination: Designated specialist who serves as your family’s main point of contact throughout the early intervention process. They help you access all necessary services, coordinate meetings, and ensure your family’s needs are being met.
Social Work: Professionals who help your family connect with community resources, support groups, and financial assistance. They assist with advocacy, helping you navigate the system of care for your child.
Speech-Language Pathology: Therapists who help your child with communication, including speaking, understanding language, and using gestures.
Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Teachers who work with your family to support your child’s language and communication development, no matter the mode of communication you choose (like spoken language, sign language, or both). They help you create a rich language-learning environment at home.
Teacher of the Visually Impaired: Teachers who help your family understand and support your child’s functional vision. They assist with strategies to help your child use their vision and other senses to learn about their environment and they assist you to make adaptations to your home and daily routines to support their development.
*It’s important to remember that available early intervention services can vary by state. This list provides a general overview of common services, but you should always check with your state’s early intervention program to see what is available to your family.