Early Intervention (0-3 years)
Service options for children under three years of age include publicly funded programs, for profit programs, and independent professionals. Included below is information about the SoonerStart early intervention program because it is publicly funded and is designed specifically for all Oklahoma children birth to 3 years of age with disabilities and developmental delays.
SOONERSTART EARLY INTERVENTION
In the state of Oklahoma, families of children birth to 3 years of age may access services through the SoonerStart early intervention program. SoonerStart is Oklahoma's early intervention program designed to meet the needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities and developmental delays. The State Department of Education Special Education Section is responsible for the administration and monitoring of the SoonerStart program. They must ensure the requirements of the Individual's with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), 2004 are implemented in accordance with the law. Other programs involved in the implementation of SoonerStart include the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center - Tolbert Center for Developmental Disabilities.
What to expect from SoonerStart:
You can expect SoonerStart to perform an evaluation of your child, develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (if your child is determined eligibile for early intervention services) and to provide service coordination. The following describes each of the activities.
Evaluation - SoonerStart will evaluate your child's development to determine eligibility for early intervention services. Autism is a diagnosis that is listed in the SoonerStart policies and procedures manual (2003) as an automatic qualifying condition meaning that if your child has been diagnosed with autism, your child has met the eligibility criteria to receive early intervention services in the state of Oklahoma. If your child does not have a diagnosis, your child will be evaluated to determine eligibility. Following is the criteria used for determining eligibility for SoonerStart early intervention services.
- exhibit a delay in their developmental age compared to their chronological age of fifty percent (50%) or score two standard deviations below the mean in one of the following areas or in a subdomain of one of the areas: cognitive, physical, communication, social or emotional, or adaptive development;
- exhibit a delay in their developmental age compared to their chronological age of twenty-five percent (25%) or score one and one-half standard deviations below the mean in two or more of the following areas or in a subdomain of two or more of the following areas: cognitive, physical, communication, social or emotional, or adaptive development;
- have a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in delay. This includes, but is not limited to: chromosomal disorders, neurological abnormalities, inborn errors of metabolism, genetic disorders, congenital malformation of the brain, congenital infections, sensory abnormalities and impairments, or identified syndromes.
Assessment and Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) - Once eligibility has been determined, you and staff from SoonerStart will develop an individualized family service plan. The IDEA requires that the IFSP to include:
Information about your child's status: The IFSP must include a statement of your child's present levels of development in the following areas: physical (gross motor, fine motor, vision, hearing, and health status), cognitive (thinking), communication (expressive and receptive), social or emotional, and adaptive (self-help). The statement is based on the information from your child's evaluation and assessments.
Family information: With your agreement, the IFSP must include a statement of your family's resources, priorities, and concerns related to enhancing the development of your child as identified through the assessment.
Results or outcomes: The IFSP must include a statement of the measurable results or measurable outcomes expected to be achieved for your child (including pre-literacy and language skills, as developmentally appropriate for the child) and family, and the criteria, procedures, and timeliness used to determine-(1) the degree to which progress toward achieving the results or outcomes is being made; and (2) whether modifications or revisions of the results, outcomes or services are necessary.
Early intervention services: The IFSP must include a statement of the specific early intervention services, based on peer-reviewed research (to the extent practicable), that are necessary to meet the unique needs of your child and family to achieve the results or outcomes, including-
(1) The length, duration, frequency, intensity, and method of delivering the services;
(2) The natural environment setting in which early intervention services will be provided, including, if applicable, a justification of the extent, if any, to which an early intervention service will not be provided in a natural environment.
(3) The determination of the appropriate setting for providing early intervention services to an infant or toddler with a disability, including any justification for not providing a particular early intervention service in the natural environment for that child and service, must be made by the IFSP team (which includes the parent and other team members) and be based on the child's outcomes that are identified by the IFSP team;
(4) The location of the services; and
(5) The payment arrangements, if any.
Frequency and intensity mean the number of days or sessions that a service will be provided, and whether the service is provided on an individual or group basis; and Method means how a service is provided; Length means the length of time the service is provided during each session of that service (such as an hour or other specified time period); Duration means projecting when a given service will no longer be provided (such as when the child is expected to achieve the results or outcomes in his or her IFSP); and Location means the actual place or places where a service will be provided.
Other services: To the extent appropriate, the IFSP must include (1) medical and other services that the child or family needs or is receiving through other sources, but that are neither required nor funded by early intervention; and (2) If those services are not currently being provided, include a description of the steps the service coordinator or your family may take to assist your child and family in securing those other services.
Dates; duration of services: The IFSP must include (1) the projected dates for the initiation of each service and must be as soon as possible after the IFSP meetings; and (2) the anticipated duration of each service.
Service coordinator: The IFSP must include the name of the service coordinator from the profession most immediately relevant to your child's or family's needs (or who is otherwise qualified to carry out all applicable responsibilities), who will be responsible for the implementation of the early intervention services identified in a child's IFSP, including transition services, and coordination with other agencies and persons.
Transition from early intervention services: The IFSP must include the steps to be taken to support the transition of the child to (1) preschool services, to the extent that those services are appropriate; or (2) other services that may be available, if appropriate. The steps required include:
(1) discussions with, and training of, parents regarding future placements and other matters related to your child's transition;
(2) procedures to prepare your child for changes in service delivery, including steps to help your child adjust to, and function in, a new setting;
(3) with parental consent, the transmission of information about your child to the local school district, to ensure continuity of services, including evaluation and assessment information, and copies of IFSPs that have been developed and implemented; and
(4) Identification of transition services and other activities that the IFSP team determines are necessary to support the transition of your child.
The IFSP must be reviewed by your family and the early intervention professionals at least every 6 months to determine progress and the need for service changes.
Service Coordination (case management) - Service coordination services means services provided by a service coordinator to assist and enable your child with a disability and family to receive the rights, procedural safeguards, and services that are authorized to be provided under the Individual's with Disabilities Education Act, including-
Coordinating all early intervention services across agency lines;
Assisting parents of infants and toddlers with disabilities in gaining access to and coordinating the provision of the early intervention services and coordinating other services identified in the IFSP that are needed or are being provided to your infant or toddler with a disability and family; and
Serving as the single point of contact for carrying out the following activities:
(1) Coordinating the performance of evaluations and assessments;
(2) Facilitating and participating in the development, review, and evaluation of IFSPs;
(3) Assisting families in identifying available early intervention providers;
(4) Coordinating and monitoring the delivery of services;
(5) Informing families of their rights and procedural safeguards;
(6) Coordinating the funding sources for services; and
(7) Facilitating the development of a transition plan to preschool, school, or other services, if appropriate.
In summary, you can expect SoonerStart to 1) conduct an evaluation to determine your child's eligibility for early intervention services; 2) develop an IFSP if your child is eligible for early intervention services; and 3) provide service coordination to help you navigate the process, understand your procedural safeguards, and receive the early intervention services authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. For additional information about SoonerStart visit http://sde.state.ok.us/Curriculum/SpecEd/SoonerStart.html (click on the SoonerStart button) or call (405) 522-3248.
For additional information visit our page on Education and Transition Resources.
OTHER SERVICE OPTIONS
Please visit our professional resources page for more information on other service options.