Your child has qualified for age 3-5 early intervention services based on an assessment of developmental milestones (speech, motor, social/emotional, peer interaction, behavior). 3-5 year old services are provided by ONLY one agency in Philadelphia County, Special Education for Early Developmental Success is also known as ELWYN SEEDS PROGRAM . Once your child is assessed and has qualified to continue services you will be invited to attend an IEP meeting in your district. A therapist from your 0-3 team can be invited as well. This process is coordinated by your Service Coordinator.   Your child is not required to attend this meeting.

 

IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. It is similar to the IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) you received for your child in 0-3 services, but has a more academic focus. School aged early intervention will focus on attention to task, communication with peers, and following directions in a classroom or community space. You will notice there are fewer instances of intervention in home-based routine, such as mealtimes, bathing and toileting, and sleep.

 

You will not receive a copy of the IEP prior to the meeting, although a DRAFT IEP will be provided at the meeting. You will meet with an agency representative from the district, your service coordinator, and possibly a therapist from your child’s 0-3 team. They will provide you with a description of services, an evaluation report of previously completed assessments, and a copy of the IEP.

 

You are your child’s advocate. Ask questions and voice any concerns about your child’s progress as stated by the plan! The agency representative for the district will read through each page of the plan, let you know who will be your child’s new therapist(s) and ask you to sign acknowledging that you agree on services. The meeting is scheduled to last less than an hour so sometimes the team moves quickly through the document. If you need further clarification or don’t understand something, speak up! It is okay to request changes or additions to the plan. It is a living document.

 

We suggest creating a list of topics or concerns regarding your child’s development in advance with your 0-3 EI therapists, especially if they are not able to attend the meeting. What challenges do you expect to face as you continue on your early intervention journey? What supports do you need to assist you as a parent and your child in the environment he/she will be in during the day? Preparation for the IEP will ensure that all of your points are addressed during the meeting.

You may want to bring an adult with you for support and as an additional pair of ears and eyes. Two heads are better than one!

 

The system is created to decrease gaps in services during this transition time. Feel free to reach out to the agency representative if you have concerns!

Best of luck to you!