Early Intervention
The Early Intervention Program offers services to eligible infants and toddlers who display developmental delays or a medical diagnosis that results in life long delays or disabilities. Services and goals are determined in partnership with families.
Services are offered at no charge to the family.
What is a Developmental Specialist?
The developmental specialist holds a professional degree plus an early intervention certification through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. This certification includes coursework in child development, special education, family and professional collaboration and intervention strategies and more. Developmental Specialists also have expertise in a variety of specialized areas including, but not limited to prematurity, autism, visual and hearing impairments, fine and gross motor, self-help and communication issues. Because of their knowledge and expertise, they facilitate an interdisciplinary approach among the various specialists involved with the child.
A developmental specialist is assigned to each family. The family is considered a vital member of the team and the team composition is determined by the needs of the child. It may include community based occupational, physical and speech therapists, infant mental health professionals, nutritionists, physicians and other medical professionals as well as those involved in the child’s daily care and other family support individuals.
Services and supports may include:
- Detailed, comprehensive developmental evaluation of communication, gross motor, fine motor, social/emotional, cognitive, and self help skills.
Development of specialized strategies for parents to promote skill building in all developmental areas through play and functional activities in every day routines.
- Collaboration with outside agencies and professionals. The developmental specialist may attend therapy sessions, doctor and clinical visits, etc. in order to support the family and facilitate communication.
- Development of specialized interventions and strategies appropriate to any of the six domains (communication, gross motor, fine motor, social/emotional, cognitive, self help) and may also include interventions related to behavior, hearing and vision concerns, etc.
- Delivery of services is typically in the home setting or other venues that the family chooses to include such sites as child care settings, early childhood centers, and so on.
- Facilitation of the transition process for children turning 3 years old and exiting the early intervention program.
- The family is invited to explore various program options such as the local school district, Head Start, child care and home venues. Financial support may be provided to families in the community for the provision of occupational, physical and/or speech therapy, based upon funding availability.
Resource Guide for families with young children. Provided by the Clark County
Child and Family Collaborative
Early Intervention
2430 Van Buren Ave.
Springfield, OH 45505
(937) 328-2680
We assist people with developmental disabilities and their families
in living, working, and participating in our community.
Clark County Board of Developmental Disabilities, 2527 Kenton St., Springfield, OH 45505 (937) 328-2675
