Upstate Cerebral Palsy offers an Early Intervention Program for infants and young children who have exhibited a delay in one or more areas of development. Our professional team includes: a Service Coordinator, Special Education Teachers, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech/Language Pathologist, and pertinent medical personnel who work with parents in developing a program to meet their child’s needs.
The Early Intervention Program is a statewide program administered locally, providing a wide array of services to eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities or special needs, and their families.
Parents help select desired services depending on the child’s needs. Services are provided in the home or in a community setting such as childcare and can also be provided at the various Upstate Cerebral Palsy Centers.
Referrals:
Referrals should be made for any child, birth to three years of age who does not seem to be developing similarly to other children the same age, or who is displaying characteristics or behaviors such as:
• difficulty sucking or swallowing
• too much or too little activity
• health problems
• doesn’t like to be touched
• vision or hearing problems
• difficulty picking up objects
• is not talking
• feels stiff or floppy to touch
• talks differently than other children
• is not rolling, sitting, walking or moving like other children the same age
However, if there are other behaviors, or areas of concern, parents should feel free to contact our Early Intervention Staff directly.
A Comprehensive Developmental Evaluation:
A Comprehensive Developmental Evaluation helps to determine if a child is eligible for early intervention services and what types of services may be needed.
An evaluation, provided by specialists from more than one area of development, will observe and test the child by:
• watching the child at play, preferably in a natural setting
• checking health and medical problems
• talking with parents about concerns and what their child is like at home
• reviewing developmental history
• administering individual tests
Based on the evaluation, services may be provided in a home-based program or a center based program.
Home-based Programming:
Home-based programming provides visits by special education teachers and licensed therapists to a child and family at home, or in another natural setting, addressing education and therapeutic needs.
Center Based Programming:
Center-based programming allows for services to be provided at the site of an early intervention program on a one-to-one basis for a child or family.
First Step Enhanced Development Group:
Toddlers ages 18 months to three years who demonstrate severe communications problems, autism or autism spectrum disorders may benefit from the First Step Enhanced Developmental Group. This program provides developmentally appropriate instruction through the use of Applied Behavioral Analysis and an introduction to discrete trial training. This program is housed in the same building as our Preschool Promise Program and has provided for excellent transitions as toddlers move into preschool. Children attend for 2 hours and receive speech services in addition to the instructional program and integrated opportunities
Staff:
Upstate Cerebral Palsy utilizes a Multi-Disciplinary Team to provide service to the child. The team includes specialists from different developmental areas such as a Service Coordinator, Special Education Teachers, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Speech/Language Pathologist, and pertinent medical personnel.
The family will also be assigned a Service Coordinator. The Service Coordinator helps families manage the infant or toddler services a child will receive. The coordinator also works in partnership with the family to provide necessary services and periodic reviews of the child’s early intervention program.
Parent Support Groups are also held that provide services and training to parents to help them promote the growth and development of the child.
Early Intervention Services are funded by the New York State Department of Health and your County.
Locations:
Eiddon and Alice Jones Armory Campus
Carbone Children’s Center
1601 Armory Drive
Utica, NY 13501
Corasanti Children’s Center
326 Catherine Street
Utica, NY 13501
Rome Location
130 Brookley Road
Rome, NY 13440
For more information please call:
(315) 797-4040 ext. 250 or 230
Email: heather.arcuri@upstatecp.org