While the Early Intervention Part C Program provides the main services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, there are more government (public), private, and pre-school services available to help children, especially if the child does not qualify for the Early Intervention program. Children can often be enrolled in more than one program since each program may have a slightly different focus and eligibility requirements. These programs are described below.

Early Head Start and Head Start Programs

Public Programs That Work With Early Intervention Programs

Home Visiting Programs

Many non-profit and for-profit organizations also have programs for young children. For example, some children may benefit from working with a mental health professional that provides therapy for children with disabilities. Some preschools and child care providers may have skills in serving children with developmental delays. These groups may be more difficult to find than well-known government and non-profit organizations, but many of them offer great care.

One way to find these groups is word of mouth such as asking other parents and the medical home (see About Medical Home) for recommendations. Families will want to research these programs with care to learn about eligibility, fees, and whether their health care plan will help to pay. Some health care plans do not cover care for specific disabilities and parents will have to pay out-of-pocket. Of course, Families will also want to ask about staff qualifications and check references.

It is important to know that children with special needs may qualify for special education preschool. These 3- to 5-year olds are entitled to receive these services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) law if found eligible. If a child doesn’t qualify, or if families simply want to explore what’s out there that might better serve a child, there are other choices.

Children with special needs are likely to need extra support and more one-on-one teaching. There are many private preschools that are geared toward children with special needs, but preschool in any setting can help to give a child the structure and skills he or she needs to be ready for kindergarten and succeed in a school setting. Families might start researching preschools on the web, by asking other parents, or even by asking their doctor or therapist, but families will want to make sure that they find what is best for their child’s health and progress. Many private schools and public charter schools have a waiting list and are on a lottery system to enroll children from year to year; it’s a good thought to put the family’s name on the list as early as they can for the school they want. Families can always cancel later if they have found something else.

• For more information on public schools, private schools, and charter schools, go to our School Types and Options page.
• For more on special education preschool in your state, go to: Special Education Services for Preschoolers with Disabilities
• For a list of pre-schools and child care centers in your state, go to: ChildcareCenter.us
• For Charter School listings in your state, go to: State Resources for Charter Schools (National Charter School Resource Center) - click your state, then click the "schools" tab.
• To search for private pre-schools in your area, go to: Private School Review