Easter Seals Disability Services

What is Early Intervention?

Research proves that early intervention and individualized service contributes directly to the later success of children and families. Easter Seals Southern Nevada offers a family centered approach to working with children who have special needs ages birth to three years. The services provided to our families occur in their natural home environments. The program is staffed by experienced, caring and professional Child Development Specialists and Therapists. Our team works together to deliver high quality services to our families. Our staff works diligently to form strong working relationships with each of the families we serve. Using the transdisciplinary approach, Child Developmental Specialists work alongside the therapists and family to ensure that a strong home program is written and followed in order to increase the level of developmental progress for children receiving services.

What is the transdisciplinary approach and why is it used?

Easter Seals Southern Nevada believes that teaching the family different techniques for working on specific skills their child is acquiring is the most beneficial to the family and child. The family spends many hours with their child between sessions with specialists at Easter Seals Southern Nevada. By involving the family in the strategies for developmental progress, the child has far more opportunities to practice the newly developing skills. The family also benefits by feeling empowered in their child’s life.

Families come first at Easter Seals Southern Nevada

The Easter Seals Southern Nevada Early Intervention Program believes in Family Centered Practice. We understand that families provide the best insight into their children and we recognize the importance of a family driven Individual Family Service Plan, or IFSP. Families are the key members of the IFSP team their wants and needs are the driving force of the plan.

Making the step to receive services

The first step in receiving services is to call your concerns into the state referral line at (702) 486-9200. After the referral call ahs been made, an appointment for evaluation will be scheduled. During the evaluation, two professionals will determine eligibility. If your child has been diagnosed with a specific disability or they exhibit a 50 percent delay in one domain or a 25 percent delay in two domains, including cognitive, social-emotional, communication, motor, and adaptive, they will be made eligible for services. Once your child is made eligible, your family and your early intervention team will begin to develop and work on specific goals from services.

Early Intervention Services

• Service Coordination -- Each family is assigned a service coordinator that helps write the individual family service plan, helps schedule appointments with specialists and assists in finding community resources.
• Special Instruction -- Child Developmental Specialists provide special instruction for the child and family. They often serve a dual purpose as service coordinator and special instructor. They work with the family, therapists and other members of the team to assist in writing the service plan, developing the strategies to address goals on the plan, and planning activities that promote overall development.
• Therapy -- Using a family-centered model, an Early Intervention Therapist (occupational, speech or physical therapist) will promote appropriate developmental experiences, learning opportunities, and strategies through activities that are embedded into the natural routine of the family. Therapy sessions take place in the child’s natural environment.
• Inclusive Playgroups -- Inclusive playgroups give the children and families the opportunity to meet people in their community and interact with their peers. The playgroups are free to all participants. The sessions are theme-based and have an array of developmentally appropriate activities that promote development in all five domains of the child’s development.
• Other Related Services -- The Early Intervention Program also provides audiological evaluations, services from a trained teacher for the visually impaired, nutrition evaluations and many other services.

For more information or to enroll, call (702) 870-7050 or contact us by e-mail.