| We believe that Early Intervention programming should
provide a safe and nurturing environment that promotes the development of
children. We further believe that play is the work of children. Young
children learn best when given the opportunities to select activities that
encourage interactive play within a teacher-planned environment.
Therefore, play is used as a method for accomplishing early intervention
goals and objectives.
Our center-based program provides opportunities for children to learn
together in an integrated setting which provides opportunities for
learning by assisting a student to develop physically, emotionally,
socially and mentally to their fullest potential. Differing levels of
ability are expected, appreciated and used to design learning experiences.
To be eligible for early intervention classes, a child must be under
three years of age and found to have a delay in at least one developmental
area.
Eligibility determination begins once a family is referred to the Wee
School. A play-based assessment of the child will be conducted by a team
of Wee School staff. The team evaluates the child's development in all
major areas including communication, social-emotional/behavioral
functioning, motor functioning, cognitive abilities, adaptive behavior,
vision abilities and hearing abilities. A delay in at least one of these
areas would be necessary for enrollment.
All children who receive early intervention services are also involved
with Shelby County's Help Me Grow program, the central intake and referral
agency for infants and toddlers.
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