About Early On
Early On is the State of Michigan Early Intervention program.
Early On exists to provide early intervention services to children, birth to three years of age, with developmental delays and/or disabilities and their families.
Mission:
Early On builds upon and provides supports and resources to assist family members and caregivers to enhance eligible children's learning and development through everyday learning opportunities.
Vision:
Infants and toddlers who are enrolled in Early On reach their fullest potential, successfully transitioning to the next phase of life, with empowered and supportive families.
Purpose
As Michigan’s Part C of IDEA program, the purpose of Early On is:
- To enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities and to minimize their potential for developmental delay.
- To minimize the need for special education and related services when these children reach school age.
- To maximize their potential to live independently.
- To enhance the capacity of families (and communities) to meet the special needs of their children with disabilities.
If you have a concern about your child’s development, and feel that he or she may be eligible for services through Early On, your child is entitled to a complete an Early On assessment, including a multidisciplinary developmental evaluation. Through the assessment and evaluation process, Early On will use an evaluation tool, family observation/assessment, physician’s reports, health history, family interviews, and other relevant information to determine whether or not each child is eligible for Early On services.
Families with eligible children will work with Early On to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) to address the needs of the child and family. Services provided are determined using the results of the assessment process and in partnership with the family.
Children may also be eligible for Early On when they have a preexisting medical condition known to cause delays. Children found eligible based on established condition remain eligible as long as the diagnosis is present.
For a complete list of established conditions.
If you feel that your child may have a developmental delay in any area of development…
Don’t worry, but don’t wait.
The Coaching Approach in Early On/Early Intervention
Coaching is an evidence-based practice used for interacting with caregivers to help them recognize what they are doing that works to support their child's learning and development. It is used to build upon existing or new strategies within the child's natural environment and daily routines.
Coaching involves collaborating with your child's provider; jointly thinking about what works, does not work, and why; trying ideas with your child; modeling with your child for you; sharing information; and jointly planning next steps.
We will provide the information and support you need to make the most of your “teachable moments” with your child. This way, your child receives quality intervention all the time, not just during a home visit with your Primary Service Provider (PSP). It is far more helpful for a child to have a caregiver who has been coached to provide support throughout the day than to have one session with a professional and no carryover.
The Role of the Caregiver in Coaching:
You are your child’s first teacher. You have the opportunity to work with your child throughout the day, every day. Your interactions are key to your child’s development and establishing a foundation for early learning.
During each visit, you will create a joint-plan with your primary service provider (PSP). The idea of the joint plan is to intentionally plan for how to use a strategy between visits when the PSP is not present.
The joint plan is a shared process. You are encouraged to contribute ideas for how you could use what has been learned during each visit to support your child’s development within the natural environment and your daily activities. There will also be opportunities for you to show the strategies you have tried, problem solve, and practice new ideas and strategies with your PSP.
(Information adapted from the works of R. McWilliam, D. Rush, M. Shelden, L. Cook Pletcher, and N. Younggren)
Role of Teaming in Early Intervention:
What is Teaming?Early intervention uses a team approach, which means that your child has a team of people available to support you and your child’s development during everyday activities in your home and community. This team includes you (the caregiver), the Primary Service Provider (PSP), and other early intervention team members. We are all equal partners and will work closely together to support you as you help your child meet the outcomes that are important to your family.
Your child’s team meets on a regular basis through formal and informal discussions to problem-solve and plan together to provide strategies based on the unique needs of your child and family.
Your child’s team may include:
- Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
- Occupational Therapist
- Physical Therapist
- School Social Worker
- Speech-language Pathologist
- Teacher Consultant of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Teacher Consultant of the Visually Impaired
- Psychologist