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Early Learning

What is Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education?

Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education services (EI/ECSE) are provided free to families with eligible infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who have special needs in the areas of speech, language, motor, learning, hearing, vision, self-help and/or socialization.

Who should be referred to the EI/ECSE program?

Any child from birth through five years of age showing delays in any of the following areas:

  • Cognitive skills: thinking, learning and problem solving skills
  • Physical skills: moving body, arms, legs (gross motor), and hands/finders (fine motor) to move around, play, and manipulate objects
  • Communication skills: understanding words and concepts and using sounds, gestures, and words to communicate
  • Social emotional skills: interacting and playing with family and other children/adults
  • Adaptive skills: self-help skills such as eating and putting on clothes

Who is eligible for services?

The eligibility criteria for Early Intervention (0 through 2 years) and Early Childhood Special Education (3 through 5 years) are established by the state. In general, children qualify for these programs when an evaluation shows that their skills are delayed to a certain degree in one or more of the following development areas: cognitive, communication, motor, social emotional and/or adaptive.

Which services are available?

Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education services include a combination of the following as needed by the infants, toddlers, or preschoolers:

  • Parent consultation and coaching
  • Specially designed instruction
  • Physical, occupational and speech and language therapy
  • Audiological management
  • Orientation and mobility training
  • Consultations to children in community preschools

Contact Information

Anne Cole, early learning director
anne.cole@hoodriver.k12.or.us