The benefits of at-home early intervention services

You’ve just found out your child is eligible for early intervention services. Now what? Where do you go for these services? You may be surprised. In many cases, specialists come right to your home or community — your child’s natural environment.

Early intervention and natural environments

Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the reason specialists often come to you. It requires that infants and toddlers eligible for early intervention receive services in natural environments as much as possible. This is a legal requirement.

Here’s what this means: In general, children must receive services in a setting or place that’s natural for an infant or toddler of the same age who does not have a developmental delay or a disability. The natural setting may differ from one child to the next, based on family routines and the types of services needed.

“Many children perform better when they’re around familiar things. For young children with developmental delays or learning and thinking differences, this is even more important.”

Service providers can offer services in other settings, too. But they may do this only when it’s not possible to do so in a natural environment.

What makes up a natural environment?

A natural environment includes where your child lives and plays. But it’s more than just a place. It’s also a process. It includes things like these:

Settings such as:

• Your home or backyard

• A relative’s home

• A childcare site

• A park

Materials found in your child’s environment such as:

• Toys

• Books

• Swings

• Grass

• Spoons

People such as:

• Parents

• Brothers and sisters

• Neighbors

• Teachers

• Friends

Activities such as:

• Eating snacks

• Bathing or dressing

• Playing

• Reading

• Walking the dog

• Going to the grocery store

• Celebrating holidays

Why is a natural environment helpful?

Many children perform better when they’re around familiar things. For young children with developmental delays or learning and thinking differences, this is even more important. They are more likely to learn. Then they can get the very most out of early intervention services.

A natural environment may:

• Make it easier for your child to practice new skills without leaving home

• Allow your child to stay engaged by doing things that interest them

• Allow a service provider to model behaviors for family members and peers

Working with children in their natural environment removes one step in the learning process. It means your child won’t need to figure out how to transfer what they’ve practiced in a clinical setting to the place where they play and live.

Of course, having services available in your home and community can make a big difference to you, too. It means you don’t spend as much time traveling to appointments at multiple locations. And you may receive some “coaching” from the specialists as you go about your day. That can be a win-win for you.

Who decides on the setting for services?

The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) team decides where your child receives services — whether in a natural environment or not. This is the team that writes the plan for the types of services your child and family get once your child is found eligible for early intervention. This team has a well-rounded view of what might work best for your child and family.

The IFSP team is made up of:

• Parents

• The service coordinator

• Two or more people from separate professions

• A person involved in assessing your child

Sometimes other family members are part of the IFSP. Other people providing early intervention services may also be a part of the team.

Alternative settings

If the team decides that a natural environment can’t address the desired goals for your child, the IFSP must spell out why not. For example, certain types of services may require special equipment that’s available only in a clinic, office, or a hospital setting.

Also, some programs offer group settings that look and feel like a playgroup. These groups are staffed by service providers who support social, intellectual, physical, fine motor, and speech development.

For more information, find out what kinds of specialists work with babies and toddlers.