Part C

Comprehensive Services: Part C

Early intervention can significantly improve your child’s development and long-term outcomes. As parents and caregivers of autistic children, it’s important to know that the federal government mandates access to birth-to-3 services for children with developmental delays, including autism. However, the specifics of these services differ across states. In Washington State, the program responsible for providing early intervention services is called the Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) program. The ESIT program is part of Help Me Grow Washington, which is a network of resources and services for families with young children.

Developmental screening is a crucial part of early intervention and is separate from the autism diagnostic assessment. The ESIT program provides developmental screening for children with delays or disabilities, including autism, but also for other conditions like cerebral palsy. If your child is identified as needing services, an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is developed to assess the needs of your child and family and to recommend services.

Services for children with developmental delays, including autism, can differ from one birth-to-3 center to another. These services often include a family resources coordinator who can connect parents to services, speech services, occupational therapy, and even classroom or other community-based services.