Early Intervention

Early Intervention at the Summit DD Board is a system of services provided (at no cost) to families of children birth to age 3 who have developmental delays or disabilities.  Services are designed to support parents and care providers with the kind of competence and confidence they need to provide their children with many opportunities for learning. 

Early Intervention Specialists meet regularly with parents to aid them in determining what their concerns and priorities are for their child and family. They work together with families to develop strategies that can be used during everyday routines and activities.  Child and family outcomes and strategies are “family centered” and are intended to fit naturally into a family’s existing daily schedule.

Early Intervention services and supports can take place in a variety of locations including the family home, child care center, the babysitter’s home or other agreed-upon community sites, based on family needs.

In addition to consultative support from other professionals such as speech therapists, physical and occupational therapists, and vision specialists, early intervention specialists can assist you in accessing services for infants and toddlers in your community.  These group activities provide wonderful opportunities for relationship-building for parents as well as toddlers.

The family’s early intervention specialist will work to coordinate and integrate information from all other professionals on the team so that parents and providers are comfortable and confident in the specific things they can do to enhance their child’s growth and development.   This important aspect of Early Intervention is based on scientific evidence that very young children learn best in their natural environments and during the kind of activities that can be practiced daily and consistently.  Therefore, parents and care providers are the most important “interventionists” in an infant's or toddler's life!

Screenings for early intervention services are referred through Help Me Grow, a non-profit agency that provides services to promote growth and development and support families during the important early years of a child’s life.  All families interested in services for children ages birth to 3 years should contact Help Me Grow at 330-376-7273.  For more information about Summit DD's Early Intervention services, please call 330-634-8614.

Early Intervention Services Contact List