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Home › Articles › Special Needs › Discovering Pervasive Development Disorders

Discovering Pervasive Development Disorders

Finding Help for Special Needs Children

By Debbie Vallejo, M. Ed.

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. These resources are "aside from maintaining routine well-visits," says Dr. Newton. Dr. Newton does caution parents to be careful when comparing their children to siblings or friends. "Children develop at different rates and development is not a race," he adds.

 

Nothing to Lose
Parker received occupational therapy, speech therapy and play therapy as a result of his early diagnosis, and is now a fully mainstreamed second grader. He has several friends and enjoys an active social life. "Parker would not be where he is today if not for the help he received early on," says Stacey. "If I were to talk with any parent wrestling with doubt I would say, 'Don't wait! You have nothing to lose.'"

Stacey also advises parents to be tenacious. "If your pediatrician doesn't listen to you, then it may be time to move on," she says.

The services Parker utilized are all accessible through state and public school programs. "Every child under the age of 3 that has a developmental delay is eligible for services through the early childhood intervention program available in each state," says Dr. Newton. "They will evaluate any child with a suspected developmental issue, so you don't have to have a confirmed diagnosis for an evaluation, just a suspicion." Children ages 3 to 21 are serviced directly through local schools.

Information regarding early childhood intervention programs by state can be found online at the Web site for the National Dissemination Center for Children With Disabilities. Each state provides families with access to services for infants and toddlers (ages birth to 3), as well as for children between the ages of 3 and 21. Services include early identification and assessment, occupational therapy, counseling, physical therapy, speech-language therapy, developmental services and other important assistance helpful to children and their families.

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