Early intervention programs are important for infants and toddlers with disabilities to minimize delays in development. These programs address five areas of development and can be done in the home or at a center. Early intervention is most effective during the first three years of life when the brain is most plastic and able to change. High quality early intervention can improve outcomes for children and is more effective and less costly when provided earlier in life.

1. Prepared By: Claire Balcueva
BEED 4 | PSED 28 – EDA
AY: 2016-2017, 1st Sem
()
)
EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of

2. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WhyisEarlyInterventionsoimportant?

3. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WhyisEarlyInterventionsoimportant?
Early intervention programs minimize
and in some cases prevent delays in
development of infants and toddlers
with disabilities.

4. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WhyisEarlyInterventionsoimportant?
They can decrease the need for special
education and related services when a
child enters school, and increase
independence.

5. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WhyisEarlyInterventionsoimportant?
Children whose special needs are
identified and addressed during these
crucial early years have a greater chance
of reaching their full potential.

6. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
HowdoesEarlyInterventionwork?

7. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
HowdoesEarlyInterventionwork?
Programs are designed to provide support for the
child’s strengths and therapy to improve the
child’s weaknesses. In some areas, services are
offered at your home, while other localities may
require going to a center.

8. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
HowdoesEarlyInterventionwork?
A comprehensive early intervention program
addresses five areas of development, with specific
services customized to meet each child’s particular
need:

9. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
AREASofDEVELOPMENT:
1. Cognitive development: how a child thinks/learns,
2. Physical development, including vision and hearing: usually
involves physical therapy,
3. Language, speech, and communication,
4. Social-emotional development, and
5. Adaptive/ self-help skills development.

10. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
Whyinterveneearly?

11. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WHYINTERVENEEARLY?
Decades of rigorous research show that children’s
earliest experiences play a critical role in brain
development. The Center on the Developing Child at
Harvard University has summarized this research:

12. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WHYINTERVENEEARLY?
Neural circuits, which create the foundation for
learning, behavior and health, are most flexible or
“plastic” during the first three years of life. Over
time, they become increasingly difficult to
change.

13. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WHYINTERVENEEARLY?
Persistent “toxic” stress, such as extreme poverty,
abuse and neglect, or severe maternal depression
can damage the developing brain, leading to
lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and
physical and mental health.

14. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WHYINTERVENEEARLY?
The brain is strengthened by positive early
experiences, especially stable relationships with
caring and responsive adults, safe and supportive
environments, and appropriate nutrition.

15. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WHYINTERVENEEARLY?
Early social/emotional development and physical
health provide the foundation upon which
cognitive and language skills develop.

16. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WHYINTERVENEEARLY?
High quality early intervention services can change
a child’s developmental trajectory and improve
outcomes for children, families, and
communities.

17. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
WHYINTERVENEEARLY?
Intervention is likely to be more effective and less
costly when it is provided earlier in life rather
than later.

18. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
THINGSTOREMEMBERINEARLYINTERVENTION:
SUMMARY

19. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
THINGSTOREMEMBERINEARLYINTERVENTION:
There is an urgent and substantial need to
identify as early as possible those infants and
toddlers in need of services to ensure that
intervention is provided when the developing
brain is most capable of change.

20. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
THINGSTOREMEMBERINEARLYINTERVENTION:
High quality early intervention programs for
vulnerable infants and toddlers can reduce the
incidence of future problems in their learning,
behavior and health status.

21. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
THINGSTOREMEMBERINEARLYINTERVENTION:
Intervention is likely to be more effective and less
costly when it is provided earlier in life rather
than later.

22. EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
REFERENCES
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et
seq. (2004).
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2008). In Brief: The science of
early childhood development.
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/download_file/-/view/64/
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2010). The foundations of
lifelong health are built in early childhood.
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/library/reports_and_working
_papers/foundations-of-lifelong-health/

23. ()
)
EARLY INTERVENTION
The Importance of
Thank You!