Assignment #1

My client AJ currently receives services from an Early Intervention Agency. It offers services to meet the needs of those eligible. This program is state funded and therefore it is free for all of its clients. Those eligible are children who are infants and toddlers that are evaluated and found to have a developmental delay or physical and or mental condition.

           A multidisciplinary evaluation s conducted to assess the level of functioning in several areas such as physical development, communication development, social/ emotional development and adaptive development. In addition the parents discuss the child’s medical history as well as any concerns. AJ’s initial assessment showed that he needed therapy in several areas; speech, special instruction and occupational therapy.

         When a child is eligible an Individualized Family Service Plan is made. This is a written plan created by the parents, service coordinator, evaluator and Early Intervention Official. After discussing AJ’s assessment, he was given speech therapy once a week, special instruction twice a week and occupational therapy once a week. Each session is 30 minutes long. Every six months the IFSP is reviewed to evaluate progress towards achieving its goals.

         EI services also include PT, social work, family counseling, psychological services, nutritional services etc. These services are provided either at home or in school. AJ currently receives speech therapy at home but the rest of his therapies are at school. AJ’s parents interact with the therapists to see how their son is doing as well as seeking advice to help reach AJ’s goals at home.

**information about the agency is from Challenge Early Intervention Center's transition pamphlet