Getting Started with Early Intervention
Early On Michigan provides free evaluations and coordinates services for young children (birth to age 3) to assist them in developmental areas, such as:
- physical (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking)
- cognitive (thinking, learning, solving problems)
- communication (talking, listening, understanding, gesturing)
- social-emotional (feeling secure, able to calm, playing with others)
- self-help (eating, dressing)
If you are concerned about your child’s development: Don’t worry, but don’t wait. Contact Early On for a free evaluation.
- Early On Michigan
- 1-800-EARLY ON (1-800-327-5966)
- Start a referral online
Your family will be assigned a service coordinator who will set up an appointment for an evaluation. Your Early On team will look at how your child grows and learns. This will create a snapshot of the child’s current developmental status (thinking, talking, moving, hearing, seeing, responding to others, and taking care of basic needs). A Family Assessment looks at your family’s strengths, needs and priorities.
Infants and toddlers with an Established Condition are automatically eligible for Early On services.
Infants/toddlers with a suspected delay or disability that’s not listed as an Established Condition should receive a comprehensive evaluation. If they are found eligible under any of the thirteen eligibility categories, they are eligible for special education services. Several categories have additional guidance for understanding how young children meet the criteria.
After a young child is found eligible for Early On, a team (including the parents, professionals, and your service coordinator) meets to develop the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) within 45 days of referral.
Depending on their needs, children from birth to age 3 may be eligible for services under only Part C or under both Part C and the Michigan Mandatory Special Education mandate.
Let’s Look Closer at the IFSP
After a young child (birth to 3) is found eligible for early intervention services, a team (including the parents, professionals and your service coordinator) meets to develop the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). This written plan explains why your child needs services, what kind of services will be provided, who will provide them and how often, and where the services will be provided. The IFSP will set goals/outcomes.
- What is the IFSP?
- More on IFSP
- Individualized Family Service Plan Required Elements– Your Service Coordinator can provide you with the form used by your district
Let’s Look Closer at Natural Environments
Natural environments means “settings that are natural or typical for a same-aged infant or toddler without a disability”. Natural learning environments include family routines and community activities where providers and caregivers work together to build intervention into everyday life. The intervention is specific to the individual family. So that might be in home, at daycare, or in the community.
Let’s Look Closer at Your Family’s Rights
As the parent of a child who is or may be eligible for Early On, you have rights. They support a positive and high-quality experience with Early On. Procedural safeguards are the checks and balances that are built into the system to help make sure everything goes well for your child and family and protect your family’s rights. Procedural safeguards are part of the federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Part C of IDEA covers services for children under 3 years old. Their purpose is to guard your rights and ensure that the process happens as it is supposed to for you and your child.
More topics for parents of infants and toddlers can be found on our webpage dedicated to resources for Babies and Toddlers or contact us.
