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Supporting children with special needs
Parents know their children best. They know their child's cues, needs, and ways of developing and learning. As a child learns to walk, talk, express emotions, and explore the world with newfound independence, one is witnessing the incredible process of a young child's development. As development unfolds, parents and other caregivers observe the many strengths and challenges that children experience as they grow—a very natural part of child development. When children's challenges appear to fall outside of the typical developmental stages, it is important for
parents and caregivers to know how to seek appropriate services and support for the child.
There are a number of services available in communities around Washington for young children with special needs. Special education services in the state are guided by a federal law, the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law outlines the rights and regulations for serving children birth to age 21 with disabilities. IDEA-Part C outlines the rights and regulations for infants and toddlers with disabilities, and IDEA-Part B outlines the rights and regulations for preschoolers with disabilities.
For more information about IDEA, go to http://idea.ed.gov/
If you have questions or concerns about your infant or toddler's development, contact:
Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Program (ITEIP) Family Health Hotline, at 1-800-322-2588 TTY: 711 (TTY relay) or visit the
ITEIP website.
If you have concerns or specific questions about your preschooler's (children ages 3-5) development, contact:
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction at 360.725.6075 or http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/default.aspx
Additional resources:
- A Family's Guide to Early Intervention Services in Washington State
- http://www1.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/Publications/22-114.pdf [418K]
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- 1.800.433.9016
- www.aap.org
- Center for Early Education and Development (CEED)
- 612.624.5780
- http://education.umn.edu/CEED/default.html
- Circle of Inclusion
- www.circleofinclusion.org/
- Division for Early Childhood (DEC) - Council for Exceptional Children
- 406.243.5898
- www.dec-sped.org
- Early Childhood Research Institute on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS)
- 1.800.583.4135 (V/TTY)
- www.clas.uiuc.edu
- The Parent and Child Care Provider Partnership for Children with Special Needs
- The Center for Children with Special Needs
- http://cshcn.org/childcare-schools-community/talking-parents-childcare-professionals