I Am Worried About My Infant or Toddler - What Should I Do?

If you think that your child is not developing at the same rate or in the same way as most children his or her age, it is often a good idea to talk to your child’s pediatrician first. Explain your concerns. Tell the doctor what you have observed and have a few examples ready. At the same time, it is always a good idea to contact your community’s Early Intervention program and ask to have your child evaluated to see if he or she has a delay that can be addressed through special education services. This evaluation is free of charge.

The evaluation is play-based, and many children find it fun. Members of the evaluation team will look at your child’s basic skills. Based on that evaluation, and the information you, the parent, provide to the team, the team will determine if your child is eligible for Early Intervention services. If your child is found eligible for these services, a plan will be designed to address his or her special needs.

For Families Living in Philadelphia: Call Philadelphia Intellectual disAbilities Service: 215-685-4646.

For Families Living Elsewhere in Pennsylvania: Call the CONNECT Information and Referral number: 800-692-7288.

For Families Living in New Jersey: Contact the Regional System Point of Entry and follow the menu direction based on the county where the child lives: 888-653-4463.

For Families Living in Delaware: Call the Child Development Watch toll free number: 800-752-9393

• CAR Resource Directory (Search For Diagnosticians)

Additional Resources:

• Video On Autism From The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC)
• Early Intervention Support Website (To Locate Early Intervention Contacts In Other States)
• Philadelphia Early Intervention Website