Make a List of the special needs your child has...

This is the first in a three-part series on typical automatic qualifiers for early intervention programs.

Most states’ agencies for the Early Intervention Programs will have similar rules and practices, but it’s good to check with your local program for specifics. There are usually certain disabilities and developmental delays that automatically qualify a child for Early Intervention. The agency will have a list of these diagnoses; and the program must have proper documentation of the diagnosis in order to render services.

Here we will start a list of some of those conditions that most states use as an automatic qualifier for services.

DIAGNOSIS/CONDITIONS LIST

1. Chromosomal/Genetic
a. Trisomies, Translocation, deletions

• Down Syndrome
• Williams Syndrome
• Cri-du-chat
• All unbalanced structural chromosome syndrome
• Prader-Willi Syndrome
• Klinefelter Syndrome
• Angelman Syndrome
• Velo-cardio-facial or DiGeorge Syndrome

b. Sex-linked

• Fragile X Syndrome
• Lowe Syndrome
• FG Syndrome

2. Syndromal
a. Cockayne Syndrome
b. Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
c. Cornelia de Lange Syndrome
d. Rubenstein-Taybi Syndrome

3. Neuromuscular Disorders
a. Cerebral Palsy
b. Muscular Dystrophy

• Duchenne Type
• Becker Type

c. Myopathies
d. Anterior Horn Cell Disorders

• Werdnig-Hoffman Syndrome
• Kugelburg-Wehlander Syndrome

Every state has some variance, and this list can and does change from time to time. If you feel like your child fits any of the above and you would like services for your child, contact your local Early Intervention Program or your county health services for more information.

Please see the next post in this series.