Early intervention serves children from birth to three years old. However, some children may be eligible for public school services if they turn two by September 30th. In Virginia, the school system serves children ages two to twenty-one. If your child is eligible for early intervention services at age two, s/he may be eligible for services within the local school system (Part B of IDEA-Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). The services your child may be eligible to receive through the school system may look different than the services s/he gets in early intervention. A child may not receive services from both systems, therefore it is important to get as much information as possible in order to make an informed decision about which service would be best for your child at this time.
Early Intervention Services |
Public School Services |
| Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) | Individualized Education Program (IEP) |
| Screenings, evaluations, service coordination, and IFSP development are at NO COST to the family. A sliding fee scale is in place to help make chargeable services affordable for families. | All services are at no cost to the family. |
| Services address functional/developmental needs of the child. | Services address educational needs of the child. |
| Services provided in the natural environment of the child. | Services provided in the least restrictive environment of the child. |
Many of the schools systems within the New River Valley have Parent Resource Centers, which can provide families with valuable supports and information:
Giles Co. - Karen McGraw, 921-1912
Montgomery Co. - Barbara Greenburg, 381-6175
Pulaski Co. - Jackie Myal, 643-0204
Radford City - Angie Whitt, 731-3679
Below are links to local school web sites:
Other
community options for services include: