4/12/12

Easter Seals new report — Our Nation’s Children at Risk: A State-by-State Report on Early Intervention — gives us a sense for how well each state takes care of its youngest children with disabilities and delays. The fact is: infants and toddlers in nearly every state continue to fall behind, many will never catch up. Yet, with the right investment in treatment and therapy before the age of five, we can change the state of early intervention for millions of families across the country.

While there are many choices for families seeking early identification and early intervention services, the federally funded Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C program offers all families services designed to help them facilitate their infant or toddler’s development. It’s a program created to help young children with disabilities or developmental delays catch up with their peers without disabilities, or enhance their development so they can better learn and grow. In October 2011 we celebrated IDEA’s 25th anniversary, yet the legislation has never been fully or adequately funded.

See how your state fares. Help us by sharing the results with your legislators and encourage them to continue to invest in the futures of our youngest children.

Source: Easter Seals

Available at: http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntlc10_mffc_state_profiles_download