Last Updated January 26, 2011

Educational Issues

When to start?

Ages Birth to Three...

Most children with spina bifida will qualify for early intervention services. These services are avialble for infants and toddlers ages birth to three years old. They look at five areas of your children's development: physical development; cognitive development; communication; social or emotional development; and adaptive development. If your child is having problems in any of these areas, he or she may recieve services designed to help them reach their full potential.

Some areas also have Early Head Start programs for children ages birth to three. Although Head Start is an income-based program, 10% of children in the program can exceed income guidelines if they meet other eligability reqirements. The presence of a disabling condition is one of the other eligability requirments for Head Start.

The therapists at your child's multi-disiplinary spina bifida clinic can show you execises and activities that you can do at home with your child.

Ages Three to Five...

Many children with spina bifida will qualify for early childhood services for 3 to 5 year olds under IDEA.

Children with spina bifida this age can also access services through Head Start programs. Some families have their child in Early Child Education for one half of the day, and Head Start the other half of the day.

A few places in the country have developed four year-old kindergarten programs that give all students (regardless of income) and early shot at learning support.

Ages Five to Twenty One...

Many students with spina bifida will be eligable for services under IDEA. Other students who don't meet the criteria for IDEA can get services they need under a law called Section 504. See the Education Related Laws page for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

Remember, Special Education is a Service, Not a Place...