The Pennsylvania Early Intervention program provides support and services to families with children from birth to age 5 who have developmental delays. Early Intervention builds upon the natural learning opportunities that occur within the daily routines of a child and his/her family.
Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to families.
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While all children grow and develop in unique ways, some children experience delays in their development. Children in Pennsylvania who have developmental delays benefit from a state-supported collaboration among parents, service practitioners and others who work with young children needing special services.
The Pennsylvania Early Intervention program provides support and services to families with children from birth to age 5 who have developmental delays. Early Intervention builds upon the natural learning opportunities that occur within the daily routines of a child and his/her family. Early Intervention promotes a philosophy that supports:
- Services and resources for children that enhance daily opportunities for learning that is provided in settings where a child would be if he/she did not have a disability.
- Families' independence and competencies.
- Respect of families' strengths, values and diversity.
Early Intervention supports and services are designed to meet the developmental needs of children who have a disability, as well as the needs of the family related to enhancing the child's development in one or more of the following areas:
- Physical development - Including vision and hearing
- Cognitive development - Thinking and problem-solving skills
- Communication development - Receptive language (how language is understood) and Expressive language (how needs/wants are communicated)
- Social or emotional development - Interaction with others, play skills
- Adaptive development - Eating, dressing, bathing
Children from birth to age 5 who have special needs due to developmental delays or disabilities are eligible to receive Early Intervention services. The services provided to children and their families differ based upon the individual needs and strengths of each child and the child's family. Services such as parent education, support services, developmental therapies and other family-centered services that assist in child development may be included in a family's Early Intervention program. Early Intervention promotes collaboration among parents, service providers and other important people in the child's life to enhance the child's development and support the needs of the family.
Services may be provided in a variety of settings - the child's home, child care center, nursery school, play group, Head Start program, early childhood special education classroom or other settings familiar to the family. Early Intervention supports and services are embedded in typical routines and activities within the family, community and/or early care and education settings. This approach provides frequent, meaningful practice and skill-building opportunities.
Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to families.
• Early Intervention Website
