Preschool Special Education Services

Preschool children can receive many types of services if they have an identified disability or developmental delay and need specially designed instruction in at least one of the following areas: • Communication development • Physical development • Cognitive development • Social-emotional development • Adaptive development

The program provides: • an information and referral service for preschool aged children • early evaluation and assessment and developmental screening • individualized education programs • speech and language therapy • audiological management • parent training/counseling • services in community preschool programs • programs at home and classroom-based programs • educational services for children who are hearing impaired • educational services for children who are visually impaired

Procedures

ScreeningsDevelopmental screenings in speech, language, fine and gross motor, vision, and hearing are conducted thoughout the county.

EvaluationsWhen screenings indicate the need for further assessment, a more comprehensive evaluation will be done with the parents' approval.

ConfidentialtyAll information is kept confidential. Parents have the right to inspect any information pertaining to their child.

Early Warning Signs of Children with Special Needs The following early warning signs are some of the more common indications that a problem may exist. We urge you to seek our help–don’t wait until your child enters school.

Your child may have difficulty THINKING if s/he: • does not react to his/her name when called by age 1; • is unable to identify hair, eyes, ears, nose and mouth by pointing to them by age 2; • does not understand simple stories by age 3; • does not give reasonable answers to such questions as “What do you do when you are sleepy?” or “What do you do when you are hungry?” by age 4; • does not understand the meaning of the words “today,” “tomorrow,” yesterday” by age 5.

Your child may have difficulty HEARING if s/he: • does not turn to face the source of strange sounds or voices by six months of age; • talks in a very loud or very soft voice; • does not respond when you call from another room; • turns the same ear toward a sound s/he wishes to hear.

Your child may have difficulty MOVING if s/he: • is unable to sit up without support by age 1; • cannot walk without help by age 2; • does not walk up and down steps by age 3; • is unable to balance on one foot for a short time by age 4; • cannot throw a ball overhand and catch a large ball bounced by age 5.

Your child may have difficulty SEEING if s/he: • is often unable to locate and pick up small objects; • frequently rubs his/her eyes or complains that they hurt; • holds his/her head in a strained or awkward position (tilts head to either side thrusts head forward or backward) when trying to look at a particular person or object.

Your child may have difficulty TALKING if s/he: • cannot say “mama” and “dada” by age 1; • cannot say the names of a few toys and people by age 2; • is not talking in three or four word sentences by age 3; • is not understood by people outside the family by age 4; • does not make up a short story and tell it by age 5.

Your child may have difficulty PLAYING if s/he: • does not play games such as “peek-a-boo” and “pat-a-cake” or wave “bye-bye” by age 1; • does not imitate parents doing routine household chores by age 2 to 3; • does not enjoy playing alone with toys, pots and pans, by age 3; • does not play group games, such as hide-and-seek, tag or ball, with other children by age 4; • does not share and take turns by age 5.

Answers to Your Questions

Who do I call? Preschool Special Education Services Chester County Intermediate Unit Telephone: (484) 237-5150 Internet Address: www.cciu.org Referrals: EIReferral@cciu.org How much does it cost? The program is free to all children who are residents of Chester County school districts.

What ages are served? • Children ages 3 years to 5 years old • Infants to age 5 for hearing problems • Infants to age 3 will be referred to appropriate agency

What programs are offered? • Preschool classrooms in public school buildings • Itinerant services

Where are the programs located? Sites are located in the following school districts: Coatesville, Downingtown, Great Valley, Octorara, Owen J. Roberts, Oxford, Tredyffrin/Easttown, Unionville-Chadds Ford and West Chester.

How are parents involved? Parents are a necessary partner in screening, identification, team meetings and as volunteers in classroom programs.

Preschool Special Education

Services

Educational Service Center455 Boot Road

Downingtown, PA 19335Telephone: (484) 237-5150E-mail: EIReferral@cciu.org

www.cciu.org

The Chester County Intermediate Unit will not discriminate in employment, educational programs or activities based on race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability, handicap, marital status or because a person is a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam era. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for employees and program participants who are disabled. No preschool, elementary or secondary school pupil enrolled in an Intermediate Unit program shall be denied equal opportunity to participate in age and program appropriate instruction or activities due to race, color, disability, handicap, creed, national origin, marital status or financial hardship. Participation in instruction and activities for a student identified as exceptional may be modified according to the Individual Education Program (IEP) developed for the student. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for pupils who are disabled. Revised 12/10

PreschoolSpecial Education

Services

Chester County Intermediate Unit

Chester County Intermediate Unit