Programs and Services - Early Intervention Services

EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES - For Children Birth to Age Three

Our professional staff of certified educators, therapists and specialists provides a range of highly specialized services to children with diagnosed visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities. Services vary according to need and are designed to encourage each child's optimal development. To help you decide which of our early intervention services would be most beneficial, we start by scheduling one or more assessments in areas of development where a child may be experiencing delays.

Assessments are tools to determine what a child is able to do and what they may need help with. All of the assessments offered are non-medical evaluations. Parents are encouraged to be present during the assessment process. At the end of the assessment, staff makes recommendations for service. Parents will receive a written report of the assessment results.

Most early intervention services are provided in the child's home or elsewhere in the community if the child is attending a day care center or other program. Parents or caregivers are important participants in each visit so that staff can provide them with information and skills that they can implement in their daily routines to help their child grow and develop to his/her potential. The frequency and length of the visits are determined according to the needs of the child and the family.

INDIVIDUAL EDUCATIONAL AND THERAPY SERVICES

• Functional Vision Assessment and Developmental Therapy/Vision Services — A functional vision assessment is usually the first service provided to children under the age of three. A teacher who is certified in visual impairments works with and observes the children using a variety of specialized toys and lighting to determine how the child uses their vision and how they compensate for their visual impairment.
• Orientation and Mobility Assessment and Services — The orientation and mobility specialist evaluates children's ability to understand where they are in their environment and how to move safely from place to place. Pre-cane and early cane skills may be introduced.
• Individualized Developmental Assessments — These assessments are designed to evaluate children's overall development. The staff person observes the child and gathers information from parents about their skills in the areas of cognition or learning, communication, fine and gross motor or movement of small and large muscles, self-care and socialization.
• Occupational Therapy Assessment and Services — The occupational therapist can evaluate and address children's feeding and self-help skills, their ability to process a variety of sensory information, the use of their hands and small muscles
• Physical Therapy Assessment and Services — The physical therapist can evaluate and address children's ability to use bigger muscle groups to perform skills like sitting, crawling, standing, and walking. They can also help to determine if a child needs specialized positioning equipment. [See Assistive Technology below.]
• Speech and Language Assessment and Therapy Services — The speech and language pathologist can evaluate and work on children's feeding skills, their ability to communicate using words, gestures, signs, or vocalizations, and their ability to understand the communication of others.
• Assistive Technology — When children need positioning equipment or adaptations to toys, our "Wee CAN" Center for Adaptive Needs can help. Staff will assist families and professionals to determine if adaptive equipment and specialized toys such as wooden positioning equipment, switches, bath chairs, introductory communication devices, low vision devices and walker or other ambulation aids may be helpful. Staff will make recommendations; coordinate ordering the equipment, and assist families in getting the funding they need.

PARENT-CHILD CLASSES

Parent — Child classes are offered at the Center weekly on the first three Wednesdays of each month. Families have a choice of morning or evening classes. The focus of the classes is to provide parents with:

• information from professionals trained to work with children with visual impairments,
• a specialized environment in which to try new activities with their child,
• an opportunity for interaction with other parents and their children

A multi-disciplinary team of professionals provide educational and consultative services for families. Parents attend regular meetings where they have an opportunity to share insights and concerns with each other and to discuss topics of interest. The program is individualized to address each family's priorities and concerns for their child. All areas of development are addressed, including vision skills.

To learn more: call 314-776-1300 or e-mail info@dgckids.org.