CONCERNED ABOUT A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT?

The First Steps to Early Intervention

"Marisa is 8 months old & she's not sitting up yet. Should I be concerned?"

"What should I do?"

Is there a child in your life... a son or daughter, grandchild, niece or nephew, friend or foster child - who seems to be developing differently from other children?

If so, this child may be eligible for help through New Jersey's Early Intervention System.

The Early Intervention System offers services for infants and toddlers (from birth to their third birthday) who have developmental delays or disabilities, as well as support for their families.

WHAT IS EARLY INTERVENTION?

Early Intervention is designed to:

support you in ways that enhance your child's growth and well being.
meet the individual needs of your child and family.
fit into the daily life of your family within your home and community.
address concerns that are important to you.
describe how you and early intervention professionals will work together.

Under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), your family is entitled to receive the following:

Evaluation/Assessment

Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP)

Procedural Safeguards

Service Coordination

To learn more about early intervention, call a Service Coordinator at the Special Child Health Services Case Management Unit in your county.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I CALL?

You will talk with a person who knows about early intervention and other resources for children and families. He/she will be able to answer many of the questions you may have.

If you would like, your service coordinator can arrange for your child to have a free developmental evaluation to determine if your child is eligible for early intervention.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

Your child may be eligible for early intervention if he/she has a developmental delay in one or more of the following areas...

Adaptive, self-help skills, dressing, feeding

Cognitive, thinking/learning activities

Communication, speech and language, understanding what is said, following directions, making needs known

Gross Motor, large body movement, crawling, walking

Fine Motor, small body movements, using hands for play

Sensory, receiving/using information through touch, hearing, sight

Social and emotional, interacting with children, adults, and the environment

Has a diagnosed physical or mental condition such as Down Syndrome or Autism

DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES

Birth to 6 months

responds to sounds
looks at faces
reaches for objects
sits with some support

6 to 12 months

sits independently
crawls and begins to pull to stand
responds to name
babbles, says "dada" or "mama"

12 to 18 months

walks five steps without falling
begins using words
points or gestures to show wants ¤ builds tower using three cubes

18 to 24 months

uses two word sentences
points to three body parts
sits in chair without falling
refers to self by name

24 to 36 months

jumps with feet together
imitates drawing lines and circles
completes simple puzzles
follow two step directions

This is a partial list of developmental milestones, for a complete list or if you have questions regarding your child's development, consult your physician.pediatrician or the Special Child Health Services Unit in your county.