Early Intervention Services

What is early intervention?
A range of services for infants and toddlers up to age three who are experiencing a delay in some area of their development.

In this section, find out about:
● Normal vs. Delayed Development
● Developmental Evaluations & Assessments
● Advocacy & Legal Rights
● Services & Therapies for Young Children
● Head Start & Preschool Programs

● NORMAL VS. DELAYED
DEVELOPMENT ●
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Healthy Children
Contains information about normal development and milestones for babies, toddlers, school-aged children, teens and young adults.
141 Point Boulevard, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007
(847) 434-4000
- www.healthychildren.org
Early Intervention Support
Find answers and practical suggestions on child development. This online site explains what early intervention is and lists state contacts for services.
- www.earlyinterventionsupport.com
First Signs
Educates parents and professionals about the early warning signs of autism and developmental disorders. They also have screening questionnaires online.
PO Box 358, Merrimac, Massachusetts 01860
(978) 346-4380
- www.firstsigns.org
My Baby's Hearing
Did your baby fail the newborn hearing screening test or have you been told that your newborn or infant has a hearing loss? This website offers a lot of helpful advice and information for parents, and is sponsored by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
31 Center Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
(301) 496-7243 or (301) 402-0252 TTY
- www.babyhearing.org
Zero to Three
Offers helpful information about behavior, development, care and education of infants in their first 3 years of life. View handouts in Spanish and English on what to expect as your child grows and how you can help your child learn.
2000 M Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 638-1144
- www.zerotothree.org/child-development
● DEVELOPMENTAL EVALUATIONS & ASSESSMENTS ●
Columbus Kids
Provides free learning checkups that help detect early developmental delays and speech, hearing or vision problems among children ages 2-1/2 to 4 years old within the Columbus City School district. Go online to view their kindergarten readiness checklist and a list of learning checkup locations for the month.
360 South Third Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 241-3089
- www.columbuskids.org
Directions for Youth & Families Ready Set Grow
Their free Ready Set Grow Program is for children ages 2 to 6 who may not be ready for kindergarten. The program includes weekly visits to the home and child assessments with recommendations.
1515 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201
(614) 294-2661
- www.dfyf.org
Flying Colors
Flying Colors is the evaluation and early childhood center for Licking County public schools. They do evaluations on children ages 3 to 5 in the county and determine special educational needs. They also offer a program for children who qualify for kindergarten but may need an additional year in a preschool setting, as well as services for children with special needs (including autism, hearing impairments and speech delays).
675 Price Road, Newark, Ohio 43055
(740) 349-1629
- www.flyingcolorspreschool.com
Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Services are provided for children from birth to age 6 who have developmental delays, disabilities or mental retardation. Professionals and families work together to create developmentally appropriate experiences for young children, in both a classroom setting and in the home.
2879 Johnstown Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(614) 475-6440
- www.fcbdd.org
Help Me Grow (HMG) / Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Early Intervention Services
Provides free health and developmental services to children from birth to age 3. They help with concerns about a child’s development, such as an infant or toddler’s language, feeding, walking, handling of toys, seeing or hearing. Call the hotline to be connected to your local HMG program, or complete and submit the referral form on their website.
510 East Mound Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Statewide: (800) 755-GROW or (800) 755-4769
Franklin County: (614) 227-9860
- www.ohiohelpmegrow.org
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Developmental Assessment Program
Offers a wide range of services to address the developmental and behavioral needs of children, adolescents and their families. They provide evaluations for children with suspected developmental disabilities and autism. They also offer a free resource center for any family that needs help finding resources in the community for their child.
187 West Schrock Road, Westerville, Ohio 43081
(614) 355-8315
- www.nationwidechildrens.org
Ohio American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Concerned about Development
Find out about appropriate developmental milestones, how to navigate the health care system in Ohio for kids that are delayed and local doctors who can screen and diagnose delays.
450 West Wilson Bridge Road, Worthington, Ohio 43085
(614) 846-6258
- www.concernedaboutdevelopment.org
Ohio Boards of Developmental Disabilities
Each county in Ohio has its own Board of Developmental Disabilities, which is responsible for providing early intervention services in that county. Click below to find information about the board in your county.
30 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215-3434
(877) 464-6733 or (800) 750-0750 TTY
- http://odmrdd.state.oh.us
Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS)
Find out what early intervention services are free and how to pay for and get funding for services that are not free.
50 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 466-7264 or (800) 282-9181
- www.olrs.ohio.gov/faq-ei-services
YMCA Early Childhood Resource Network (ECRN)
Provides developmental screenings for children from six weeks of age through 5 years of age who have special needs (developmental delays, disabilities and special health care needs). ECRN staff perform on-site child observations at child care sites and preschools. They also provide ongoing service coordination.
6877 North High Street, Worthington, Ohio 43085
(614) 543-9000, ext. 212
- www.ymcacolumbus.org
● ADVOCACY & LEGAL RIGHTS ●
Council for Exceptional Children
Advocates for the rights of individuals with unique needs and differing learning abilities, especially in obtaining education based on best practice and research.
1110 North Glebe Road, Arlington, Virginia 22201
(888) 232-7733 or (866) 915-5000 TTY
- www.cec-ohio.org
Franklin County Family & Children First Council
Plans and coordinates services for children, and directs Help Me Grow, which serves children with delays and children at-risk for becoming delayed. Click for county Family and Children First councils throughout Ohio.
855 West Mound Street, Columbus, Ohio 43223
(614) 275-2511
- www.helpmykid.org
Legal Aid Society of Columbus
Provides help regarding the education and health care rights of children and offers representation at meetings (including IEP meetings) with school officials and teachers. They also assist children in accessing health care benefits to which they are entitled under Medicaid.
1108 City Park Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43206
(888) 246-4420
- www.columbuslegalaid.org
Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
Serves families of infants, toddlers and youth with disabilities in Ohio to ensure that every Ohio child with special needs reaches their highest potential. Parents can call to get one-to-one assistance.
165 West Center Street, Marion, Ohio 43302
(800) 374-2806, ext. 20
- www.ocecd.org
Ohio Department of Education
Provides information, resources and services related to the health and safety of Ohio’s schoolchildren and the creation of environments where students can learn.
25 South Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(877) 644-6338
- http://education.ohio.gov
Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council
A group committed to improving independence and promoting community inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.
899 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205
(800) 766-7426 or (614) 466-5205
- www.ddc.ohio.gov
Ohio Legal Rights Service
Helps people throughout Ohio who are developmentally disabled, mentally ill or have other physical and mental impairments. The intake department can be contacted toll-free for confidential services. They can assist with cases of abuse, neglect, discrimination, public assistance denials and other services. Their Client Assistance Program (CAP) helps people applying for or receiving services from the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation or the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired.
50 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(800) 282-9181 or (614) 466-7264
- http://olrs.ohio.gov
State Support Team Region 11 (COSERRC)
Provides services and help to school districts, educational service centers, community schools, early childhood centers, and families. Check out their resource page for educational resources such as IEPs (Individual Education Plans) and family resources.
2080 Citygate Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(614) 753-4690
- www.cositpd.org
Voices for Ohio's Children
Represents a non-partisan statewide network of families, professionals and organizations throughout Ohio that work on public policy to make sure children are well-educated, healthy and safe.
510 East Mound Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 225-9073
- www.vfc-oh.org
● SERVICES & THERAPIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ●
Alexander Graham Bell School
Serves families of deaf and hard of hearing children from birth to three years of age living in central Ohio, as part of the Columbus Hearing Impaired Program (CHIP). When toddlers are three years old they may enter the preschool program.
1545 Huy Road, Columbus, Ohio 43224
(614) 365-5977 TTY
- www.columbus.k12.oh.us
Association for the Developmentally Disabled (ADD) Dahlberg Learning Center
Provides full day, year-round childcare for children ages 6 weeks through 5 years of age. During the school year, they offer physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as early intervention services, early childhood education and social work services.
1915 East Cooke Road Columbus, Ohio 43224
(614) 486-4361
- www.addohio.org
Childhood League Center
Offers early childhood services for children with delays in development, home visitation programs and classes for children with special needs. Most programs are free or for a small fee.
670 South 18th Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205
(614) 253-6933
- www.childhoodleague.org
Columbus Speech & Hearing Center
Offers screening, evaluation and treatment of children from birth through adulthood with speech and language delays and autism. Click on their resources page to find more resources on topics such as stuttering, literacy, assistive learning devices and more. They offer programs for families of children with autism or language delays to learn how to communicate with their children. They accept government (Medicaid) and private insurances.
510 East North Broadway, Columbus, Ohio 43214
(614) 263-5151 or (614) 263-2299 TTY
- www.columbusspeech.org
Easter Seals
Provides a variety of services and programs throughout Ohio for youth with autism, disabilities or special needs, including early childhood education, physical therapy, speech therapy, weekend respite care for families and camping and recreation.
3830 Trueman Court, Hilliard, Ohio 43026
(800) 860-5523 or (614) 228-5523
- http://centralohio.easterseals.com
Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities Early Childhood Education Center
Services are provided for children from birth to age 6 who have developmental delays, disabilities or mental retardation. Professionals and families work together to create developmentally appropriate experiences for young children, in both a classroom setting and in the home.
2879 Johnstown Road, Columbus, Ohio 43219
(614) 475-6440
- www.fcbdd.org
Help Me Grow (HMG) / Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Early Intervention Services
Provides free health and developmental services to children from birth to age 3. They help with concerns about a child’s development, such as an infant or toddler’s language, feeding, walking, handling of toys, seeing or hearing. Click to find resources by county. Anyone can refer a child to HMG. Call the hotline to be connected to your local HMG program, or submit the referral form on their website by clicking below.
510 East Mound Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Statewide: (800) 755-GROW or (800) 755-4769
Franklin County: (614) 227-9860
- www.ohiohelpmegrow.org
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders Intensive Behavioral Intervention Program
Provides intensive early and school-age intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders ages 2 and older.
187 West Schrock Road, Westerville, Ohio 43081
(614) 355-8315
- www.childlab.com/intensive-behavioral-intervention
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Occupational, Speech & Physical Therapy Programs
Developmental occupational therapy, speech and language pathology and physical therapy services are provided at the main hospital, as well as the Dublin, Hilliard, Westerville, Newark and East Broad Street offices for children from birth to age 21.
700 Children's Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205
(614) 722-2200
- www.nationwidechildrens.org
Ohio School for the Deaf Alice Cogswell Center
Provides developmentally appropriate year-round education and activities using American Sign Language and English for deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old.
500 Morse Road, Columbus, Ohio 43214
(614) 728-4030 or (614) 728-6900 TTY
- www.ohioschoolforthedeaf.org
Ohio State University Nisonger Center
Offers several programs for youth with disabilities, including an autism spectrum disorder clinic and behavioral support services. Their early intervention program is for ages 1 to 6 with a variety of developmental delays.
1581 Dodd Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43210
(614) 292-0775
- http://nisonger.osu.edu/clinics.htm
Ohio State University Speech, Language & Hearing Clinic
Provides hearing and speech evaluations to children and adults of all ages.
1070 Carmack Road, Columbus, Ohio 43204
(614) 292-6251
- http://speechhearingclinic.osu.edu
St. Vincent Family Centers
Offers a year-round program for children ages 3 to 6 who have severe behavioral, emotional or social challenges. The program is for children who are having problems being maintained in regular daycare, head start, preschool or kindergarten.
1490 East Main Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205
(614) 252-0731
- www.svfc.org
● HEAD START & PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS ●
Head Start Programs
Are you looking for preschool and Head Start programs for children ages 3 to 6? Find out more in the education section of CAP4Kids by clicking below.
- Go to Education Section of CAP4Kids
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CAP4Kids does not recommend or endorse the agencies or resources listed on the site. This is an informational site only. We encourage users to carefully review and evaluate all services and decide what is best to meet the needs of their families.