Idaho Parents Unlimited, Inc.

When Your Child Is Diagnosed With A Disability

When a child is diagnosed with a disability, families encounter many changes in their lives. They must learn about their child’s disability and find appropriate services for their child. This can be an overwhelming and lonely time for families. They must come to understand new and technical words. If your child is diagnosed at an early age, one of the things that IPUL can provide to help you is our Infant/Toddler Packet which is full of good information. Please call IPUL and ask for one.

Finding services does not need to be difficult thanks to the passage of the Idaho Early Intervention Services Act. Under this law, children from birth through two years of age who are found to have significant delays in their development (sometimes called developmental delays), are eligible to receive vital early intervention services. Children who have been diagnosed with a physical or mental condition that will probably cause delays in their development in the future are also entitled to early intervention services.

In Idaho

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Infant Toddler Program
The Infant Toddler Program helps children from birth to age three who have a developmental delay. The Infant Toddler Program is available statewide and provides a variety of therapeutic, educational and supportive services to help both the child and his or her family. Services are provided as early as possible in the child's life. All services are free to families. The program is supported by federal and state law. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C describes all requirements of the program. In 1991, the Idaho Legislature voted to develop the program in Idaho.

The Early Childhood Coordinating Council (EC3) One of the primary roles of the EC3 is to advise and assist the Department of Health and Welfare regarding issues around implementation of the Infant Toddler Program, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C. In this role, the Council provides ongoing support and recommendations.  The other primary role of the Council is to provide oversight for the state systems grant that looks at issues and ways to provide support for families in five focus areas. Those focus areas of health, social and emotional development, early care and education, parent education and family supports. These are known to be the basic elements to help families prepare their children for school and for life-long learning. For more information go to www.earlychildhood.dhw.idaho.gov or become a fan of the EC3 on Facebook.

The Idaho State Department of Education Division of Special Education Services. The purpose of this service is to enable all students to achieve high academic standards and quality of life.  The Special Education Team works collaboratively with districts, agencies, and parents to ensure students receive quality, meaningful, and needed services.

Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (IAEYC)
Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (Idaho AEYC) is a non-profit organization, the Idaho affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Idaho AEYC supports quality early care and education for all children, from birth through age eight, and promotes excellence in early childhood education wherever children grow and learn.

IdahoSTARS is a statewide program to assist parents by offering child care referrals and information about quality child care settings and to assist child care providers with a variety of professional development opportunities and resources.  IdahoSTARS provides Inclusion Resources as well as Child Care Resource and Referral.

National Resources

NECTAC is the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center.
It is supported by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Educaton Programs. NECTAC serves all 50 states an d 10 jurisdictions with an array of services and supports to improve service systems and outcomes for infants, toddlers, and preschool aged children with special needs and their families.