What Happens After Eligibility is Determined?

After the infant or toddler is determined to be eligible for early intervention services, the team, including the parents, will meet to write a plan for addressing the unique needs of the child and family. The plan is called the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and must include the following:

• Information about the child's current development;
• Information about the family's resources, priorities, and concerns;
• Outcomes expected, and how the family might make progress toward reaching the outcomes;
• Early intervention services needed to help the child and family reach the outcomes discussed;
• Statement about the natural environment in which services will be provided (home and community setting);
• Other services (such as speech therapy and occupational therapy);
• The dates and duration of services;
• Naming of the service coordinator;
• Transition plan for the child (into early childhood or preschool programs at age three).

The IFSP must be reviewed every six months, or more often if needed, and a formal evaluation of the IFSP is completed each year, as the infant or toddler grows and progresses. No services will be provided without the written consent of the parents.

For children with fragile X syndrome, team members need to be sure the IFSP involves collaboration among the persons who will work with the infant or toddler. For instance, speech pathologists need to work with occupational therapists to ensure that the child's sensory needs are considered when addressing feeding and talking. Speech therapists and early intervention specialists may work together to create augmentative communication devices (picture boards, etc.) for children who are slow in learning to talk.

Gail Harris-Schmidt, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

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