Early Childhood
Early childhood is a time of tremendous growth across all areas of development. A newborn grows from being entirely dependent, into a young person who is learning to take care of his or her own needs as well as interact with others. This is also when a child may demonstrate a developmental delay in one of the following areas of development:
- Large Muscle Movement (rolling, crawling, walking, etc)
- Small Muscle Movement (holding a bottle, rattle, toys, etc)
- Speech and Language Skills (feeding, understanding others, saying words, etc)
- Cognitive Skills (thinking and learning, how does your child play with/interact with toys and environment)
- Social Emotional Skills (how does your child interact with others)
- Self Help Skills (eating and dressing)
Ages Birth-2
Children from birth through age 2 with a diagnosed disability, a condition with a high probability of resulting in a delay, or who demonstrate a delay in at least one area of development listed above may be eligible for Early Intervention services. Early Intervention provides quality services that are proven effective in helping children achieve developmental milestones. Our team of professionals, which include Developmental Specialists and Service Coordinators as well as an Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, and Speech Therapist will help build your family’s capacity to care for your child and promote his/her growth and development in natural environments.
Ages 3-5
Children age 3 to 5 must have documentation of at least two developmental delays to be eligible for our services. Children in this age group are transitioning to school-age and your local school district becomes the main provider for your child. If the eligibility criteria is met, children are assigned a Service & Support Administrator (SSA) who will assist you in planning for and finding resources to aid your child, as well as support you in navigating the education system.
Eligibility
Eligibility for services is determined using guidelines established by the State of Ohio. Click for Information about Eligibility
Paying for Services
Early Intervention services are funded through Federal and State grants and the generosity of our community through the Developmental Disabilities of Clark County tax levy. We adhere to Ohio’s System of Payments rule for Early Intervention services, the majority of which are provided at no cost.
Local school districts are required by law to provide free and appropriate public education to children with disabilities age 3 to 21. An appropriate education may be accompanied by related services such as speech therapy, occupational and physical therapy, psychological counseling, and medical diagnostic services necessary to the child’s education.
If a child requires therapies that are not provided through Early Intervention or the school, some funding may be available through Medicaid or the Family Needs Assistance program (FNA). Contact your Service Coordinator or Service & Support Administrator for help in applying for this funding.
Resources
The links below are for informational purposes, are not all-inclusive, and do not indicate endorsement by Developmental Disabilities of Clark County.