Making Choices

Table of Contents

Early Start - Birth to 36 Months

Infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months may be eligible for early intervention services if through documented evaluation and assessment they meet one of the criteria listed below:

  1. have a developmental delay in either cognitive, communication, social or emotional, adaptive, or physical and motor development including vision and hearing; or
  2. have established risk conditions of known etiology, with a high probability of resulting in delayed development; or
  3. are at high risk of having a substantial developmental disability due to a combination of risk factors.

Early intervention services that are needed for each eligible infant or toddler are purchased or arranged by a regional center or a local education agency.
(source: California Government Code: Section 95014(a) Department of Developmental Services website)

Resources

Web

  Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

California Department of Education

School Age - Ages 3 - 21

In California, children and youth ages three to twenty-two may receive services from both a regional center and their local school district.

Regional centers provide diagnosis and assessment of eligibility and help plan, access, coordinate and monitor the services and supports that are needed because of a developmental disability. There is no charge for the diagnosis and eligibility assessment. Once eligibility is determined, a case manager or service coordinator is assigned to help develop a plan for services, tell you where services are available, and help you get the services. Most services and supports are free regardless of age or income.

For children and youth, ages age 3 through 21, special education and related services are provided through the school system. These services can be very important in helping children and youth with disabilities develop, learn, and succeed in school and other settings.

Under the law, students with disabilities have a right to be educated in the regular education classroom with their peers without disabilities. Education in regular education settings implies more than just physical presence; it includes access to the curriculum that is taught in the regular education classroom.

Who is Eligible for Services?

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states are responsible for meeting the special needs of eligible children with disabilities. To find out if a child is eligible for services, he or she must first receive a full and individual initial evaluation. This evaluation is free. Two purposes of the evaluation are:

The services that your child receives from your school district’s Special Education department are guided by the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The following resources can provide you with information about the IEP process.

Resources

Web

Special Education -  California Department of Education

Print/Multimedia (Books, Videos and DVDs)

Other School Topics

Therapies / Interventions / Services

Description of range of services, therapies and interventions

These may be symptoms and behaviors of autism can combine in many ways and vary in severity. In addition, individual symptoms and behaviors often change over time. For these reasons, treatment strategies are tailored to individual needs and available family resources. In general, however, children with autism respond best to highly structured and specialized treatment. A program that addresses helping parents and improving communication, social, behavioral, adaptive, and learning aspects of a child's life will be most successful. (source: WebMD.com)

Because there is a wide range of therapies, services and interventions that are available to your child and family, choosing one may be the most difficult decision you will make. The one constant in choosing an intervention for your child and family is the fact that there is no one correct choice. As every child is unique, so are their needs and their intervention plan. When considering any type of treatment, it is important to know the source of information and to ensure that studies are scientifically sound. Accounts of individual success are not sufficient evidence to support using a treatment. Look for large, controlled studies to validate claims.

How do I choose the right services, therapies and interventions for my child and family?

When you or your child has a developmental disability, you hear about a lot of different types of treatment or therapy. These may be treatments you read in the paper, find on the Internet, or are told about by friends or professionals. Some of these treatments are well researched and others are not. Sometimes it is hard to figure out what may be good for you or your child. Here are some things that you can think about before trying a new treatment option.

Learn about the available programs by visiting, talking to parents who are involved, talking with providers and by doing your own research. Your local Early Start Family Resource Center may be able to assist you.

Consumers can always obtain contact information through a search engine like Google for their local College of Physicians and Surgeons to check credentials of physicians.

Parent Recommended Starter Kit

Resources

Web


California Department of Developmental Services

Print/Multimedia (Books, Videos, DVDs)

Types of Interventions

The different types of treatments that you may encounter generally fall into the following categories:

Behavioral training and management
Behavioral training and management uses positive reinforcement, self-help, and social skills training to improve behavior and communication. Many types of treatments have been developed, including Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH), and sensory integration.

Specialized therapies
These include speech, occupational, and physical therapy. These therapies are important components of managing autism and should all be included in various aspects of the child's treatment program. Speech therapy can help a child with autism improve language and social skills to communicate more effectively. Occupational and physical therapy can help improve any deficiencies in coordination and motor skills. Occupational therapy may also help a child with autism to learn to process information from the senses (sight, sound, hearing, touch, and smell) in more manageable ways.

Medications
Medications are most commonly used to treat related conditions and problem behaviors, including depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. (source: WebMD.com)

For information on the research behind these interventions, please refer to Best Practices Guidelines for Effective Intervention, due for publication in fall 2009 by the California Department of Developmental Services.

Parent Recommended Starter Kit

Resources

Print/Multimedia (books, videos, dvds)

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This portion of the FRCNCA.org website has been developed by the Family Resource Network of California (FRCNCA), with funding provided by the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS). DDS, FRCNCA, and FRCNCA.org are not responsible for the content found at the aforementioned links, nor do the links imply endorsement or promotion of the company/organization, its content, services, therapeutic treatment options, or products. DDS, FRCNCA, and FRCNCA.org are also not responsible for the policies and practices of these sites, such as their Privacy Policy, use of cookies, etc. The user visits these site at their own risk. Our website provides links as information only. Information at this site is not intended as a substitute for medical/health care. This information is not to be taken as medical or other health advice pertaining to any specific health and medical condition. DDS and FRCNCA strongly encourage consumers to speak with their physicians/health care professionals about their particular health and developmental concerns. DDS and FRCNCA do not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on this site, sites mentioned on this site, and linked sites.