The first three years of every child’s life are critical.

The Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities was enacted in 1986 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 20; U.S.C., Section 1431 et seq.).  The Early Start program is California’s response to the federal legislation ensuring that early intervention service for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families are provided in a coordinated family-centered system of services that are available statewide.

Infants and toddlers from birth to age 36 months may be eligible for early intervention services through Early Start if, through documented evaluation and assessment, they meet one of the criteria listed below:

• have a developmental delay of at least 25% in one or more areas of cognitive, communication, social or emotional, adaptive, or physical and motor development including vision and hearing; or
• have an established risk condition of known etiology, with a high probability of resulting in delayed development; or
• be considered at high risk of having a substantial developmental disability due to a combination of biomedical risk factors diagnosed by qualified personnel

California Government Code: Section 95014(a)

California Code of Regulations: Title 17, Chapter 2, Section 52022

Developmental Services Trailer Bill SB 188

Based on the child’s assessed developmental needs and the families concerns and priorities as determined by each child’s Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team, early intervention services may include:

• assistive technology
• audiology
• family training, counseling, and home visits
• health services
• medical services for diagnostic/evaluation purposes only
• nursing services
• nutrition services
• occupational therapy
• physical therapy
• psychological services
• service coordination (case management)
• sign language and cued language services
• social work services
• special instruction
• speech and language services
• transportation and related costs
• vision services

The Story of Max – Spanish