Early intervention provides support for young children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. In the United States, IDEA Part C generally covers eligible children from birth until their third birthday. You can contact your state's program yourself; you do not need a doctor's referral to ask for an evaluation.
If you are concerned, the next step is a conversation and an evaluation request, not trying to diagnose your child from a checklist. The CDC early intervention guide explains the starting points for both younger and older children.
Who should you contact?
For a child under 3, use the CDC directory of state and territory early intervention programs. Programs have different names, so search by your location rather than expecting every office to be called “early intervention.” Tell the program your child's age, where you live, and that you want to request an evaluation because of developmental concerns.
For a child age 3 or older, contact your public school district's special education office about an evaluation. A child does not have to be attending that school to ask about the process. If the first person you reach is unsure, ask for the special education director or Child Find contact.
You can also speak with the pediatrician at the same time. Medical evaluation and educational or developmental services can have different purposes; one appointment does not automatically arrange the other.
Screening, evaluation, and assessment are not the same
What each part of the process is for
Swipe across the table to see every column.
| Step | Purpose | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental screening | A brief check that can identify a reason for a closer look | Does the result lead to an evaluation referral? |
| Early intervention evaluation | Determines whether the child meets the program eligibility criteria | Which developmental areas will be evaluated, and when will we receive the results? |
| Child and family assessment | Identifies strengths, needs, family priorities, and appropriate supports | How will the plan address the routines that are difficult for our family? |
| Medical diagnostic evaluation | Investigates a possible health or developmental condition | How does this connect with the services we are requesting? |
Under IDEA's evaluation rules, qualified personnel use multiple sources of information rather than a single test as the only eligibility criterion. Evaluation can include parent interviews, developmental information, and relevant records. In some cases, existing records can establish eligibility; assessment is still needed to identify supports. Procedures must be nondiscriminatory, with native-language requirements subject to the regulation's feasibility exception.
Family assessment is voluntary. You can explain what matters to you, such as getting through meals, communicating choices, or participating at child care. Ask how the team will include those priorities rather than arriving with a list of therapies you feel you must select yourself.
Who qualifies for IDEA Part C?
Eligibility is not determined by whether a parent is worried enough or has found the right label online. State criteria, evaluation findings, and certain diagnosed conditions guide the decision. The exact developmental-delay thresholds and services vary by program.
A medical diagnosis and program eligibility are related but not identical questions. Ask the program to explain its criteria in writing. You do not have to wait to obtain a diagnosis before making the initial call.
If a child does not qualify, request the written results and ask what follow-up, other programs, or re-evaluation options are available. Ask for the procedural safeguards and how to challenge a decision you disagree with. Keep copies of the documents and the dates of your requests.
How long should the evaluation process take?
The federal Part C rule generally requires any applicable screening, the initial evaluation and assessments, and the first Individualized Family Service Plan meeting within 45 days after the lead agency or provider receives the referral. Documented exceptional family circumstances or a lack of parental consent despite repeated documented attempts can affect that timeline. It is not a guarantee that every therapy session begins within 45 days. See 34 CFR 303.310.
Write down when the referral was received, not just when you first left a voicemail. If you are waiting, ask who has the referral, what the next appointment is, and whom to contact if nothing happens. A simple log helps: date, office, person, request, and promised next step.
What early intervention services can include
Depending on the child's assessed needs, services may include speech-language support, physical or occupational therapy, and other developmental or family supports. The plan should connect services to meaningful goals rather than simply collect appointments.
For example, a family might want help with a child communicating during meals or moving around a play space. Ask the team how a proposed service relates to that goal and what the caregiver's role will be. Do not start exercises or feeding techniques from a general article; those need instructions suited to the child.
The written plan is called an Individualized Family Service Plan, or IFSP. Ask for a copy you understand, the service coordinator's contact details, and an explanation of how progress and changes will be discussed.
Are early intervention services free?
Some Part C functions must be provided at no cost, including evaluation and assessment, service coordination, and IFSP-related administrative work. States may have payment systems for some services. A family that meets the state's definition of inability to pay cannot have Part C services delayed or denied because of that inability. The details are in IDEA's payment and fee rules.
Before agreeing to a payment arrangement, request the state's written policy and ask about fees, insurance use, consent, and financial protections. “Publicly funded” does not mean you should assume every service or private provider is free. You can ask these questions while arranging evaluation rather than postponing the call because you are worried about cost.
What happens near the third birthday?
Part C and preschool special education are not an automatic handoff to identical services. For a toddler who may qualify under Part B, the Part C program arranges a transition conference with family approval, generally at least 90 days before the third birthday and, by agreement, up to nine months before it. Late referrals have additional rules. See IDEA's transition requirements.
Ask early who will coordinate with the school district, whether another evaluation is needed, and what happens to each current service. Our preschool selection guide can help with classroom questions, but enrolling in a private preschool is not a substitute for this transition process.
What to gather before the first conversation
- Specific observations: what your child does, when something is difficult, and whether a skill has changed.
- Relevant medical or developmental records you already have.
- Notes from child care, if you want them included.
- Your preferred language and any communication or access needs.
- Two or three routines you most want help with.
You do not need a polished file before calling. If your child has lost a skill, raise that promptly with the pediatrician as well as the program. Immediate medical concerns belong with medical care, not on an evaluation waiting list.
While you are arranging support, keep ordinary family activities adaptable. Our kindness activities allow different ways to participate, and the positive discipline guide distinguishes a skill difficulty from a behavior that needs a clearer limit.
The useful next step is small: find the local program, make the request, and record what should happen next. This U.S. service-navigation guide uses CDC and federal IDEA resources checked September 8, 2026; your state program can explain how its rules apply to your family.