Early Childhood

Early Childhood is a department of Developmental Disabilities of Clark County. We provide services for children from birth through five years of age.

Our commitment is to provide quality services for your child and family. We partner with you to promote your child’s participation in daily activities. Parent involvement is crucial in all aspects of the child’s success.

We are Experts

Our team is made up of service coordinators, developmental specialists, a speech pathologist, a physical therapist, and an occupational therapist. Each team member has training and experience working with children who have a variety of needs, including hearing and vision loss, Autism, language delays, Down syndrome, limited mobility and more. We will help build your family’s capacity to care for your child and promote his/her growth and development in natural environments.

Our program is highly effective, with about 50% of the children receiving our services no longer needing them upon entering preschool. Early Childhood is funded by the Developmental Disabilities of Clark County levy and the State’s early intervention program.

Services For Ages 0-2

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. Once your child has been referred to our program, he/she will be assigned a Service Coordinator who will guide you through the process, arrange evaluations, services, and meetings. The Service Coordinator will also document your child’s goals on an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

Your child will also be assigned a Developmental Specialist (DS). DS’s are trained in all areas of child development. They are certified by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.

Your DS will complete an assessment of your child to determine developmental needs and outcomes to work on collaboratively. Your DS will also provide personalized coaching in your child’s natural environment, (home, day-care, community, etc.) to help your child reach his/her full potential.

Services For 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

A child age birth through 2 is eligible for services if he/she has a diagnosed disability, a physical or mental condition with a high probability of resulting in a delay, or a delay in one of the following areas:

• Large Muscle Movement (rolling, crawling, walking)
• Small Muscle Movement (holding a bottle, rattle, toys)
• Speech and Language Skills (feeding, understanding others, saying words)
• Cognitive Skills (thinking and learning, how your child plays with/interacts with toys and environment)

To see if your child qualifies for Early Intervention call 937-328-2680 or use our ONLINE REFERRAL FORM.

Click for Information about Eligibility for ages 3 and up.

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 services 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 Developmental Specialist or Service & Support Administrator for help in applying for this funding.