The goal of Early On is to identify children who have a developmental delay or who have an established condition that places them at risk for a developmental delay. The outcome desired for all children is to have them have the best possible start when they enter kindergarten. Some children in Early On are also eligible for the birth to three special education program but not all of them.

Early On provides services to children ages 0-3 that meet certain eligibility criteria. Children must demonstrate a developmental delay or have an established condition. Early On is a name unique to Michigan. The law is Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Every state has service provisions for Part C

Every child is offered a developmental assessment to determine how he/she is doing in each area of development. The developmental assessment evaluates the following areas:

• Communication: how the child responds and understands language as well as how he/she says and uses sounds, words and sentences.
• Fine Motor: how the child uses his hands, eyes and hand and eyes together
• Gross Motor: how the child integrates reflexes, moves, crawls, walks, runs jumps etc.
• Cognitive: how the child uses the other areas to understand his world, solve problems and play.
• Self-Care: how the child eats, dresses, brushes teeth etc.
• Social-Emotional: how the child responds to his world, develops relationships, feelings and emotional states.

Information is sought from your child's physician to provide input regarding your child's current health status. Information you the parent provide in all of these areas are critical to the child's assessment.

If the child is eligible for Early On, you and the assessment team will work together to develop your Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). Your child's needs will be discussed and if you desire, your needs as related to caring for your child can be included in the plan. There are a variety of early intervention services that may be provided to you and your family. Your plan will be reviewed regularly to determine if your child continues to need these services.

Every child develops at his or her own pace. However, development is predictable with skills emerging during specific windows of time and within a predictable pattern or sequence. If you think your child may be eligible for Early On call Ionia County Intermediate School District at 1-616-522-1410 for more information. To learn more about Early On check out the Michigan Early On website at: earlyonmichigan.org.

Early On is a Parents as Teachers affiliate.

EARLY ON TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW!!

• family training, counseling, and home visits;
• special instruction;
• speech-language pathology and audiology services;
• occupational therapy;
• physical therapy;
• psychological services;
• service coordination services;
• medical services only for diagnostic or evaluation purposes;
• early identification, screening, and assessment services;
• health services necessary to enable the infant or toddler to benefit from the other early intervention services;
• social work services;
• vision services;
• assistive technology devices and assistive technology services; and
• transportation and related costs that are necessary to enable an infant or toddler and the infant's or toddler's family to receive another service described in this paragraph;

 

By 3 months of age, a child should:

• Raise head slightly
• Follow person with eyes
• Smile
• Vocalizes
• Move arms and legs

By 6 months of age, a child should:

• Roll over
• Have good head control
• Reach and obtain objects
• Laugh out loud
• Turn head to sound

By 9 months of age, a child should:

• Sit
• Transfer object from hand to hand
• Say mama, baba, and dadda
• Respond to name
• Bear weight on feet

By 12 months of age, a child should:

• Pull self to stand
• Crawl
• Pick up small item with thumb and forefinger
• Say 1-3 words
• Follow simple directions

By 18 months of age, a child should:

• Walk well
• Stack objects
• Imitate words
• Scribble with crayon
• Feed self finger foods

By 24 months of age, a child should:

• Point to familiar objects
• Turn pages in book
• Use single words
• Drink from cup
• Walk up stairs

By 2-1/2 years of age, a child should:

• Use two word combinations
• Follow two step commands
• Use 50 different words
• Do simple dressing
• Kick a ball

By 3 years of age, a child should:

• Use three word combinations
• Speak clearly
• Know 1-3 body parts
• Stack four blocks
• Feed self

For more information on early childhood development visit the following sites:

www.kinderstart.com