Early Start Services RCOC TIFFANY M BAUER MA

Early Start Services @ RCOC TIFFANY M. BAUER, MA, BCBA COYNE & ASSOCIATES EARLY START CO CHAIR

What are Early Start Services? In the state of California under Title 17 regulations any child with a 33% delay in at least one developmental area has a right to therapeutic services. At the age of 2 the criteria changes to 50% delay in at least one area or 33% delay in two or more areas. Developmental Areas: Receptive and Expressive Language, Cognition, Social Emotional Development, Self-Help/Adaptive and Fine and Gross Motor Skills

How Does a Child Qualify for Services? Typically a pediatrician or other professional will refer the parent to call RCOC for an assessment (there also community screens that help families to access services). Once the family calls intake at RCOC they are typically approved for either a single discipline evaluation (e. g. speech evaluation), a 5 hour evaluation (combo of 2) or a full evaluation (3 disciplines). Disciplines: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Evaluation results are reviewed via the resource group process internal to RCOC and services are determined at the IFSP meeting.

Types of Services Offered in Early Start Speech and Language Therapy- receptive and expressive language skills/speech production and articulation. Examples: Teaching a child to use 2 -3 words to request (“I want milk”), labeling common objects or engaging in basic conversation “What is your name? ” ABA Therapy (Applied Behavior Analysis)- intensive educational model based on learning theory-works to increase appropriate behavior (i. e. skill development) and decrease problem behavior (i. e. challenging behaviors like aggression, Self-Injurious Behavior). Examples: Decreasing a child’s aggression so that he or she can be in a preschool setting, teaching a child to make eye contact as a beginning social response or functional communication (making requests). Plus skills across all developmental areas!

Types of Services Offered in Early Start Occupational Therapy-promotes skills in the areas of self- help, Fine Motor and Sensory Motor. Examples: Using a spoon, fastening buttons or tolerating textures. Physical Therapy- promotes skills in the areas of gross motor development. Examples: Walking up and down stairs without assistance, running or balancing on one foot. Where are they offered? In home Clinic Preschool setting

Sample of ABA Therapy