Early Intervention for Kiddos in Colorado
We’ve got a lovely guest blog post from Shari Karmen, OT and lead therapies coordinator at TLC Learning Center in Longmont, Colorado. Below, Shari shares both her professional and personal stories with Early Intervention - the why, the when and the how to access EI for your child. Enjoy!
What Inspired an Interest in Early Intervention?
I’m an Occupational Therapist. I believe in Early Intervention.
I don’t believe in “wait and see” what happens in a year. When you are worried about your child’s development, you should go with that gut feeling. Helping kids and families is what I love to do.
When I think of the successes of Early Intervention, so many faces jump into my head. I remember when a little girl with a serious heart condition ate her first Cheerio without choking - a huge feat for this toddler, who had a history of feeding difficulties and poor weight gain.
Then I think about another little girl who was sent home from her long hospital stay with a bottle and nipples from the hospital that were not available to the public. Her mom was panicked, but we worked together to find the right one, a comfortable feeding position, and had her move to a commercially available bottle and nipple. Her mom was overjoyed.
I have so many stories like these two.
What is Early Intervention?
Commonly referred to as “EI”, it is a nationwide system that helps identify and help babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. It focuses on 5 areas of development:
Physical (rolling, crawling, using hands to play with blocks)
Cognitive (problem solving, how to get to a toy, playing peek-a-boo, figuring out a toy)
Communication (babbling, talking, following directions)
Social/Emotional (feeling secure, smiling, playing with other children)
Adaptive (eating, dressing, sensory processing)
Eligibility is determined by an evaluating team. If eligible, EI services can be in place from birth up to a child’s third birthday. Anyone can refer to EI. If you, as a parent, have a concern about your child’s development, you can call us at TLC Learning Center, talk to your child’s health care provider, or go straight to the EI website: Early Intervention Colorado. There is a number to call, or you can do an online referral.
Early Intervention Services Include:
Physical Therapy – to address gross motor skills such as rolling, crawling, and walking, as well as issues with balance, strength, and coordination.
Occupational Therapy – to address fine motor skills, feeding skills, sensory processing, and self-help skills (toileting, dressing), and play skills.
Speech-Language Therapy – to address understanding of language, expression, social communication, and speech intelligibility.
EI is routine-based. That means that we, the therapists, help you, the parent, to provide therapeutic activities during your child’s daily routine. We see children in their homes, childcare settings, and out and about in the community.
My Personal Story With Early Intervention
I have a personal story. My child was delayed. I was probably the nightmare mom – the one who knew just enough to be dangerous. I brought my baby in at 4 days old and said this is low muscle tone. Of course, at the time, my baby was crying and stiff as a board. But my pediatrician believed me and referred me to the Early Intervention program in Tucson. My friends then became my baby’s therapists.
Koby is truly an Early Intervention success story.
We started Physical Therapy at 6 months, followed by Occupational Therapy and then Speech Therapy. My baby sat when placed at 9 months, crawled a crooked path at 9 months, and walked at 18 months. Koby did not use verbal language, but did learn some sign language between 12 and 18 months. Koby was very sensitive to movement, noises, and touch, which made car rides, going to the grocery store, and getting dressed a challenge. But my husband and I followed through with every recommendation.
My child graduated from PT, then ST (speaking in full sentences), and lastly OT within 3 years. I am happy to report that Koby is a talented, soft-spoken, and loving young adult living a fabulous life in New York.
I know not everybody’s story is the same, but in all of my years working, I can honestly say that I always see positive changes with Early Intervention services. I was friends with my child’s therapists, and now I have made friends with my client’s families.
Early Intervention works!
Shari Karmen, OTR/L, CLC
Contact Us
If you, a family member, or a friend are looking for Early Intervention support, reach out! You can also find a full list of recommended providers on our website. We’d love to help you find a provider in your area or get you scheduled in our office for additional support. You can reach us at info@wellspinefamilychiropractic.com or 720-403-8255.