Early Childhood Programs designed
for children from birth through age five and their families,
include supportive home services, center-based programs for
toddlers and preschoolers and parent-child programs. Often
these are the first contact families have with the Board of
DD.
Parental participation is key to all these programs and is
strongly encouraged.
An early intervention specialist visits families enrolled
in supportive homes services in their homes on a periodic scheduled
basis to help with child development, support, access to community
resources and future planning. Physical and occupational therapists
and speech-language therapists may provide evaluations and
consultations, and specialists may provide consultation to
day care centers or homes for working families.
Toddler and preschool programs take place at six early childhood
centers located throughout the county. All the centers operate
in buildings alongside programs for typically developing children
with a major focus on including children with and without disabilities
into ongoing programs. Emphasizing play and functional activities,
the curriculum centers on developing the child's ability to
communicate, social and emotional skills, physical development,
self-help skills and parent education.
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Parent-child programs focus
on parent-child interactions, specific areas of interest families
have regarding child development and opportunities for families
to get together to discuss mutual concerns. Early intervention
specialists, occupational and physical therapists, speech-language
pathologists and music therapists all participate in this program.
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