Early Intervention

Early Intervention refers to a wide range of therapeutic and educational activities designed to treat and/or educate children from birth to three years of age with developmental delays, or those who are at risk of having delays. Early intervention assists children and their families during the most critical developmental changes.

Early Intervention programs are based on the belief that by intervening as early as possible, development can be enhanced, accelerated, or modified in a positive way. This concept has become a standard philosophy in the treatment of children with disabilities and developmental delays.

Programs

An Early Intervention Specialist coordinates the skills of many different specialists to meet the individual needs of the child and family. They help the family to:

Understand child development through parent education;

Find community resources to fit family needs;

Provide information concerning their child's special needs; and

Guide parents through the transition process of leaving one program to enter another

Families are served either through homebased where the specialist visits the house per family needs, or sitebased where the parent/guardian is invited to play and socialize with other parents or children. Parents find activities on site offer an opportunity to gain support by talking to other parents. The children work on communication, socialization skills, self-help skills, and physical development while having fun in a school setting.

Services

Family support and education;

A team of speech, physical, and occupational therapists who provide play-based exam and assessment;

Transportation, when necessary, to and from site based sessions.

Play groups at the school site enable the children to use special facilities, such as the gross motor room, the intervention classroom and the large outdoor play area. Parents can observe their children at play and learn first-hand how to build upon their natural curiosity to foster their development. Planned activities led by professionals are also fun! Home visiting is available enabling children and families to learn from an Early Intervention Specialist in their own environment.

Making It Possible:

S	ensitive to the cultural diversity of LorainCounty, program planners throughout the County have developed culturally sensitive services in natural settings.
T	ransportation is provided for parents/guardians and their children to selected play groups so that no eligible families living in LorainCounty are denied access to the program.
A	ll staff members are specially trained to provide services. When the need arises for a service not available through Murray Ridge staff members, referrals are made to other professionals.
F	or available services that exist in the community, staff links parents to providers in a county-wide collaborative effort.
F	or more information about Early Intervention Programs call Valerie Deptula, Early Intervention Supervisor at 440-284-3655 or e-mail her at vdeptula@murrayridgecenter.org.

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