5435 INTERLECTUAL DISABILITIES
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INTELECTUAL.docxRESPONSE1
TuesdayJul 19 at 4:23pm
Why are early intervention services for children with intellectual disabilities so important?
Early intervention services for children with intellectual disabilities are essential because they will support a child’s development in the natural settings of school, neighborhood, and home (Hardman, et. al., 2017). Intervention is likely to be more effective when it is provided earlier in life rather than later. Research has stated that the connections in a baby’s brain are the most adaptable in the first three years of life Before the passage of IDEA, many children were not identified as having intellectual disabilities until they entered elementary school around the age of 5 or 6. They might not have shown physical or learning delays that are easily identifiable during the early childhood years.
According to the CDC, early intervention is the term used to describe the services and supports that are available to babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. Publicly funded programs provide services for free or at a reduced cost for any child who is eligible in every state. In Mississippi, First Steps EIP is a program that matches the unique needs of infants and toddlers who have developmental delays or a birth condition that could cause a developmental delay, with Early Intervention services and resources within the community (MSHD, 2022). Early intervention services can change a child’s developmental path and improve outcomes for children, families, and communities. Families benefit from early intervention by being able to better meet their children’s needs from an early age and throughout their lives.
While in general education the focus is on academics, social skills are introduced daily in the classroom. Some of the skills that are introduced but not limited to are cooperation, self-control, communication, etc. (Marso, 2014). Students are with their peers daily and have to learn how to adapt to situations. Through intervention services, and cooperation with family and communities, students with intellectual disabilities can have a successful transition to all stages in life.
References
Hariman, M., Egan, M., Drew, C. (2017). Human Exceptionality: School, Community, and Family. Pgs. 204-223)
(2019, December 9). What is "Early intervention"? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved July 19, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/parents/states.html
Health, M. S. D. of. (n.d.). Early intervention program (first steps). Early Intervention - Mississippi State Department of Health. Retrieved July 19, 2022, from http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/index.cfm/41,0,74,html
(2022, April 11). Why act early if you're concerned about development? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved July 19, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/whyActEarly.html#:~:text=Early%20intervention%20services%20can%20change,children%2C%20families%2C%20and%20communities.&text=Help%20your%20child%2C%20help%20your,age%20and%20throughout%20their%20lives.
Marso, S. (2014, August 13). Teaching social skills to children with special needs. Carolina Pediatric Therapy. Retrieved July 19, 2022, from https://www.carolinapeds.com/blog/2014/08/teaching-social-skills-to-children
RESPONSE 2
What is early intervention? Early intervention is the term used to describe services and support that help babies and toddlers, from birth to 3 years of age, with developmental delays or disabilities, as well as their families. This may include speech therapy, physical therapy, and other types of services based on the needs of a particular child and family. These early intervention services can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to learn new skills and further increase their success in school and life. These services are available in every state across America and are provided for free or at a reduced cost for any child who meets that state’s criteria.
Why is early intervention so important? Early intervention services are vitally important for every child, but especially for those who are intellectually disabled. Intervention is likely to be more effective when it is provided earlier in life, rather than later. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), neural circuits within a child’s brain have been proven to be more adaptable before the age of three. The older a child becomes, the harder these neural circuits are to change. When early intervention services are provided the ability to alter a child’s developmental path is much greater, improving outcomes for children, families, and communities. (CDC, 2022)
How do children receive early intervention services? In our home state of Mississippi, the Department of Health (MSDH) is the lead agency of the Mississippi First Steps Early Intervention Program (also known as First Steps), which is the statewide early intervention program supported by Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). Part C of IDEA is a federal grant program that aids in the state’s implementation of the early intervention program for infants and toddlers with disabilities up to age three. The Mississippi program provides services through its nine local coordinators, which report to one of the three regional coordinators in the Northern, Central, and Southern parts of the state. In each early intervention program, service coordinators work with families after a referral to the program has been made. The role of service coordinators is to manage early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers, participate in the development of the Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP), and if needed, connect children and families with appropriate early intervention service providers. (Mississippi Thrive, 2022)
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). What act early if you’re concerned about development?. https://www.cdc.gov/
Mississippi Thrive. (2022). Policy Brief: First steps early intervention program in Mississippi. https://mississippithrive.com/
Edited by Amanda Swan on Jul 20 at 2:01pm
