Our family has been working with early intervention for the past year, and upon his annual review, they want to discharge him from the program, yet all the 'experts' he's working with disagree, as do my husband and I.  Has anyone got any advice on how to combat this?  With our son's speech issue (CAS) the medical community recommends Early Intervention because he's so young, and that it would best serve him in his home environment. EI seems to be taking the tack that he should be served under the 'medical model' because we went to the extra effort and had him evaluated on his speech.  Has anyone else gotten the run around?  Right now, I want to throw a tantrum just like my 2 year old!

Cathy,

How old is your son?  If he is 2 about to turn  3, that is the main reason for the discharge.  Early Intervention in most places stops at age 3 and you have to go to a speech therapist or preschool after that.  They will continue what the Early Intervention started.  What will happen is that the Early Intervention will contact the school district you are in and the school district will take it from there.  Hope this helps.

Hi Cathy yes early intervention should continue what they started they should not discharge him unless your son and your family feels comfortable with the level he is at they are supposed show you that he is meeting expectation. and at any time you feel he is not than you advocate for your son remember you are his mom and you will be heard. i just came from an IEP meeting today and for the first time i felt like ok now we may be getting some where! child find has been really coming through for my son. Cathy I have been in your shoes for the last 2yrs moving state to state advocating for Bryson. cathy please feel free to call me any time i will try to give you any leads I can.804-306-4165. Don't give up! Remeber you are his Advocate!mom!

He's 2 1/2. We've got a few months before he would transition into the next set of services.

They stopped for us at that age too.  That was when the transition started because of the time frame needed for the next services and the next service is usually preschool.  Just they are doing this now because over they summer, they won't be able to do so because hardly anyone at the school works during the summer.  I had the same problem and we had to start it early too.  I had to step on a few toes to get things done because we were military at the time and the military had a lot of red tape to push through, but it does get easier.  Tonya is right.  You are your child's advocate.  Don't give up and push for what you believe your son needs.  You know him best, not them.  You can call me any time as well.  I'm a stay at home mom, so I'm available most of the day.  804-723-3817.  Call any time.  

Look into PPCD through the school district.. My son is going throught the school district and Scott and White hospital in TEmple,TX.

This is in NY so I am not sure.  But, my DD is 2 and 1/2 and can reamin in EI until Dec 2010.  She turns 3 in Sept.  You then can switch to CPSE or sooner if you want.  Check into CPSE, if he still qualifies.