Planning early intervention for a child with special needs can be challenging. Here are some helpful tips about how to take advantage of early intervention services, including:
- Eligibility for early intervention services
- Program costs
- The early intervention services process
Early intervention services help children from birth to age 3 with developmental delays or disabilities. The Department of Defense offers eligible military families access to the service through the Educational and Developmental Intervention Services Program.
We've made understanding early intervention services easier by outlining the basics including eligibility, funding and the process.
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Eligibility for early intervention services
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Families can receive early intervention services for a child who:
- Has a diagnosed condition expected to cause a developmental delay
- Has cognitive, physical, communication, social, emotional or adaptive developmental delays
- Is at risk for developmental delays without early intervention services
Check out the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center for state-by-state guidelines and DoD Instruction 1342.12 for more definitions and criteria to receive services.
Program costs
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guarantees an education for children with special needs, regardless of your family's financial situation.
- Early intervention services. States supplement federal and state funding for IDEA with sliding scale fees and insurance. TRICARE may also pay some costs not covered by the state. A TRICARE beneficiary counseling and assistance coordinator can give you more details.
- Educational and Developmental Intervention Services. Parents pay nothing when the Department of Defense provides EIS through Educational and Developmental Intervention Services.
The early intervention services process
Service branch medical departments manage Educational and Developmental Intervention Services in locations with a Department of Defense school. The early intervention services process includes:
- Identification and screening. Local military hospitals or school systems guide you to a screening location if you think your child may have a disability or developmental delay.
- Referral. Parents or physicians usually make early intervention service referrals, which go directly to the Educational and Developmental Intervention Services Program that serves your installation.
- Service coordinator. Service coordinators evaluate any child referred to EIS.
- Multi-disciplinary team evaluation. The team conducts observations, tests and interviews to determine your child's unique abilities.
- Individualized family service plan. You and the team will create a plan that includes goals, intended outcomes and a plan for transition out of EIS programs.
Additional information
You can find information on stateside EIS programs through the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center and the Center for Parent Information and Resources. If you're overseas, visit your service's website or your local TRICARE military treatment facility for more information on the Education and Developmental Intervention Services Program.
Your plate is already full enough. Let Military OneSource guide you through the early intervention maze and make life easier for you and your family.