Dr. Carlson's Corner
Early Learning and Special Needs
Last month’s column explored developmental milestones that can be used by parents, caregivers, and medical providers to monitor the social-emotional, cognitive, language, and motor development of young children. These developmental checklists can help identify delays, so children can access appropriate early intervention services. In South Dakota, infants and toddlers with disabilities or developmental delays can receive early intervention services and supports through the South Dakota Birth to 3 Early Intervention Program (Birth to 3).
The state-wide Birth to 3 program recognizes that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. Therefore, the program’s services are delivered in a child’s home or daycare setting with the purpose of helping parents and caregivers learn how to support their child’s development through typical, daily routines. This family-focused approach not only empowers parents and caregivers, but also benefits children by providing them with multiple opportunities to practice skills throughout the day in their natural learning environments.
If you or your child’s doctor suspect that your child may have a disability or a developmental delay, you may call the SD Birth to 3 program at 1-800-305-3064 or contact your local service coordinator. A service coordinator will guide you through a process that begins with developmental screenings or evaluations conducted by an early intervention team. This team typically consists of early childhood special educators, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. Other team members may include medical providers, behavioral specialists, audiologists, vision specialists, and other professionals depending upon the needs of your child and family.
If your child qualifies for Birth to 3 services, the service coordinator and early intervention team will work with you to develop an Individualized Family Services Plan (IFSP). The IFSP summarizes your child’s current strengths and needs across developmental domains, outlines future outcomes/goals, and describes the home-based services your child and family will receive. The IFSP is periodically updated based upon your child’s changing developmental needs.
“The First Three Years Build a Lifetime.” That is the slogan of South Dakota’s Birth to 3 program, and it highlights the important role early development plays across an individual’s life span. No parent wants to suspect that their young child may have a disability or a developmental delay; however, research has shown that early intervention services can change a child’s developmental trajectory (NECTAC, 2011).
In next month’s column, we will explore early intervention services for preschool-aged children in South Dakota.
References and Resources
South Dakota Birth to 3. (n.d.). What is early intervention?. Retrieved November 14, 2020 from https://doe.sd.gov/Birthto3/documents/B3factsht.pdf
South Dakota Department of Education. (n.d.). South Dakota Birth to 3 Early Intervention Program. https://doe.sd.gov/Birthto3/
South Dakota Parent Connection. (2016). Parent brief: What parents should know about the important role they play in their child’s early development. Retrieved November 14, 2020 from https://www.sdparent.org/media/library2/fluid-mod-page/67/documents/Early%20Childhood%20Development-1.pdf
The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC). (2011). The importance of early intervention for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Retrieved November 14, 2020 from https://ectacenter.org/~pdfs/pubs/importanceofearlyintervention.pdf
The PACER Center. (2020). Individualized family service plan. Retrieved November 14, 2020 from https://www.pacer.org/ec/early-intervention/ifsp.asp
Dr. Krislyn Carlson is a K-5 special education teacher with the Beresford Public School District. She has twenty-two years of experience teaching special education at the elementary and middle school levels. Krislyn obtained her doctorate degree with an emphasis on special education and administration from the University of South Dakota. Current interests include adapting literacy and language instruction for students with significant cognitive disabilities and complex communication needs.