TIFFANY M. BAUER, MA,BCBA COYNE & ASSOCIATES EARLY START CO
CHAIR Early Start Services @ RCOC
Slide 2
What are Early Start Services? In the state of California under
Title 17 regulations any child with a 33% delay in at least one
developmental area has a right to therapeutic services. At the age
of 2 the criteria changes to 50% delay in at least one area or 33%
delay in two or more areas. Developmental Areas: Receptive and
Expressive Language, Cognition, Social Emotional Development,
Self-Help/Adaptive and Fine and Gross Motor Skills
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How Does a Child Qualify for Services? Typically a pediatrician
or other professional will refer the parent to call RCOC for an
assessment (there are also community screens that help families to
access services). Once the family calls intake at RCOC they are
typically approved for either a single discipline evaluation (e.g.
speech evaluation), a 5 hour evaluation (combo of 2) or a full
evaluation (3 disciplines). Disciplines: Physical Therapy,
Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Applied
Behavior Analysis (ABA). Evaluation results are reviewed via the
resource group process internal to RCOC and services are determined
at the IFSP meeting.
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Types of Services Offered in Early Start Speech and Language
Therapy- receptive and expressive language skills/speech production
and articulation. Examples: Teaching a child to use 2-3 words to
request (I want milk), labeling common objects or engaging in basic
conversation What is your name? ABA Therapy (Applied Behavior
Analysis)- intensive educational model based on learning
theory-works to increase appropriate behavior (i.e. skill
development) and decrease problem behavior (i.e. challenging
behaviors like aggression, Self-Injurious Behavior). Examples:
Decreasing a childs aggression so that he or she can be in a
preschool setting, teaching a child to make eye contact as a
beginning social response or functional communication (making
requests). Plus skills across all developmental areas!
Slide 5
Types of Services Offered in Early Start Occupational
Therapy-promotes skills in the areas of self- help, Fine Motor and
Sensory Motor. Examples: Using a spoon, fastening buttons or
tolerating textures. Physical Therapy- promotes skills in the areas
of gross motor development. Examples: Walking up and down stairs
without assistance, running or balancing on one foot. Where are
they offered? In home Clinic Preschool setting
