Why Intervene Early?

To enhance the child's development - Child development research has established that the rate of human learning and development is most rapid in the preschool years. Timing of intervention becomes particularly important when a child runs the risk of missing an opportunity to learn during a state of maximum readiness. Research has shown that the early the intervention, the more effective it is.  The developmental gains are greater and the likelihood of developing problems is reduced.

To provide support and assistance to the family - The family of a young exceptional child often feels disappointment, social isolation, added stress, frustration, and helplessness. The compounded stress of the presence of an exceptional child may affect the family's well-being and interfere with the child's development. Early intervention can result in parents having improved information and skills for teaching their child and improving their child’s overall outcomes.

To maximize the child's and family's benefit to society - A third reason for intervening early is that society will reap maximum benefits. The child's increased developmental and educational gains and decreased dependence upon social institutions, the family's increased ability to cope with the presence of an exceptional child, and perhaps the child's increased eligibility for employment, all provide economic as well as social benefits.

Is Early Intervention Really Effective?

After nearly 50 years of research, there is evidence that early intervention increases the developmental and educational gains for the child, improves the functioning of the family, and reaps long-term benefits for society. Early intervention has been shown to result in the child

• Needing fewer special education and other habilitative services later in life;
• Being retained in grade less often; and
• In some cases being indistinguishable from nonhandicapped classmates years after intervention.