Forums | Site Map

Home

Early Intervention for Your Child

Chat Transcript

with Rita Taddonio, CSW
Director of SPARK (Child Development program) at Spence-Chapin

Question: Rita, Early Intervention services stop at age three. What can parents do after that?
Rita: After three a parent basically has two choices:

1. Go through their public school special ed department to get an evaluation (which in NYC is called the committee on preschool special education ages 3-5 and after 5 the committee on special education). The school district option is free, but then the records stay in the child's folder throughout their educational life. Of course, if your child needs special services, he/she needs it and who cares what is in the folder.
2. The private options are to go to a learning specialist or neurodevelopmental specialist (psychologist or psychiatrist) or a center, sometimes run through a hospital. Parents often go the private route because because the records don't go into the child's education folder, and also because school districts sometimes are overburdened and don't have time to do as thorough job as they should... or they have less skilled evaluators.

Question: Aren't private evaluations expensive?
Rita: They are expensive - usually around 1500 dollars in NYC, but insurance sometimes pays for part of it, especially if you go through a center connected to a hospital like the Yale clinic.

Question: Rita, what happens if a parent knows the child needs services and they aren't recommended or supported through Early Intervention?
Rita: You can go to a "fair hearing." Most of the time the best thing to do is NOT sign the IFSP and request a meeting with the supervisor. If that doesn't work, then demand a fair hearing, and put everything in writing - your concerns, your request.

Question: What about if you already signed the IFSP (because you didn't know any better) and now want to change?
Rita: You can always request a change to your IFSP - just make sure your have the proper or a substantial justification.

Next: Chat Transcript... continued

Email Page to a Friend | Feedback | Adoption | Adoption Wiki | Parent Profiles | Infertility | Adoption Information

© Adopting.org 1995-2009. This site should not substitute personal professional, legal, or medical advice. The accuracy and personal applicability of this information is not guaranteed. By using it you agree to the terms of service, including jurisdiction and limitation of liability provisions.

         - Select One - Learn More For Birthmothers For Adoptive Parents For Single Parents Alternative Adoptions International Latest Info Our Guarantee Surrogacy About AdoptHelp