Unit 3 Project for Ce240-06 (Young Children with Special Needs)

Identification and Early Intervention

The main source that my current work environment utilizes to identify a disability in a child is the teachers and feedback from parents. The center requires every teacher to learn their students through observation and relay this information on observation cards. Each child is required to have at least four observations a month in the preschool room since the ratio is set at 1:12. Of course, the lower the age the lesser the ratio is set, but each child is still required to have a minimum of four observations a month. For instance the ratios for Pre-Toddler is 1:5 and Toddler is 1:7. The observations are then turned into our Training and Curriculum Specialist (T &C), who reviews all observations and then addresses any concerns they may have with the learning responses or observations from the teacher. The T&C observes motor, listening and sensory skills before contacting the parents. They also monitor for signs of Autism, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), as well as evaluating whether any learning disorders are present such as signs of being deaf or blind, hearing impairment skills, or language development.

The Intervention techniques we utilize are referring the child and family to the “Educational and Developmental Intervention Services” also known as EDIS. This is the procedure on most military installations that provide services through DODEA, Department of Defense Education Activity. At this point EDIS, performs an extensive evaluation on the child and completes a very thorough assessment that is utilized when developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP). An IEP is important because it helps address all developmental delays or special learning needs as a “whole.” This is very important because in order to address and enhance a child’s development everyone working with the child must be in correlation.

All of the services I have mentioned above are completely free of charge and are mandated by the “No...