Early Intervention

Early Intervention is not a cure for disabilities or risk conditions. Rather, it is a system of coordinated services that promotes the child's growth and development and supports families during the critical early years. Early Intervention services to eligible children and families are federally mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and in California by S.B. 1085, the California Early Intervention Services Act.

Research shows that participation in family-centered, early intervention services during the first three years of life can have significant effects on the cognitive development and social adjustment of low birth weight, premature children and on the overall development of young children with disabilities.

Infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months may be eligible for and benefit from early intervention services if one of the following factors is present:

1. Significant developmental delay in one or more of these areas:

• Cognitive development, e.g., limited interest in environment, limited interest in play and learning
• Physical and motor development, including vision and hearing, e.g., hypertonia, dystonia, asymmetry
• Communication development, e.g., limited sound repertoire, limited responses to communication with others.
• Emotional-social development, e.g., unusual responses to interactions, impaired attachment, self-injurious behavior
• Adaptive development, e.g., feeding difficulties.

2. Established risk conditions of known etiology or those conditions expected to result in significant developmental problems such as:

• Chromosomal disorders,
• Neurological disorders,
• Inborn errors of metabolism, or
• Visual and hearing impairments.

3. High risk of having a substantial developmental disability due to a combination of risk factors such as:

• Prematurity (less than 32 weeks gestation and/or low birth weight of less than 1,500 grams).
• Asphyxia or need for ventilator assistance
• Central nervous system infection or abnormality
• Biomedical insult (including but not limited to injury, accident or illness which may seriously or permanently affect developmental outcome), or
• Parent with a developmental disability.

Within 45 days after referral is received:

• A Service coordinator is assigned
• An evaluation for eligibility is completed
• An assessment is conducted for program planning
• A peer parent contact may be available, and
• A meeting will be held to develop the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) to initiate child and family services.

Early intervention services under Early Start are provided by regional centers and local education agencies throughout California and include:

• Assistive technology devices/services
• Audiology (hearing) services
• Family training, counseling and home visits
• Some health services
• Medical services for diagnostic or evaluative purposes only
• Nursing
• Nutrition counseling
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Psychological services
• Respite
• Service Coordination (case management)
• Social work services
• Special instruction
• Speech and language services
• Transportation services
• Vision services
• Others as needed

CALIFORNIA EARLY START PROGRAM SERVING INFANTS 0-36 MONTHS FAIR HEARING PROCEDURES

Right to a Fair Hearing

There may be occasions when a parent, guardian or an authorized representative of a client or potential client aged 0-36 months is dissatisfied with the decision or action of the Regional Center which is felt to be illegal, discriminatory or not in the infant's best interest. Every effort will be made to resolve disagreements at the lowest possible administrative level. One method of resolving disagreement is to request an Informal Mediation meeting with the Regional Center Director or his/her designee. This meeting must take place within ten (10) days of the request for fair hearing, and a written decision will be issued within five (5) days following the Informal Mediation meeting. If local administrative efforts are unsuccessful, a formal Due Process Fair Hearing shall be made available to the applicant or recipient of services. These procedures are authorized in federal regulations (34 CFR Sections 303.420 through 303.425) and the California Government Code (Title 14, Section 95007). The appeal must be initiated within thirty (30) days from the time of receipt of notice of the proposed action.