Who qualifies for EarlySteps?

June 07, 2019 14:41

Your family will qualify for EarlySteps if your child has:

a developmental delay, OR
a medical condition that often leads to a developmental delay

If either of these may be true, keeping reading this Guide and learn how to contact EarlySteps. They will do an evaluation to see if you qualify.

Image of an exclamation mark beside the text 'If you have any concerns about you child, you need to get them checked out as soon as possible. The earlier a child with a development delay gets help, the more likely they are to catch up.'

If you have any concerns about you child, you need to get them checked out as soon as possible. The earlier a child with a development delay gets help, the more likely they are to catch up.

Developmental Delay:

A child will do an evaluation with a specialist to check their progress in different types of development. If they score below a certain point in two of these categories, they will qualify for EarlySteps:

Cognitive: thinking, learning and memory
Physical: movement and coordination
Communication: expressing themselves and understanding others
Social or emotional development: understanding emotions and forming relationships
Adaptive: self-help skills like eating, dressing or using the bathroom

(Learn more about developmental delay in the next page.)

Medical conditions:

There is a long list of specific conditions that automatically qualify a child for EarlySteps. This is just a small sample:

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sensory or physical impairments (vision, hearing, muscle function)
Low birth weight or premature birth

If your child does have a certain condition or diagnosis, it will be more clear cut. But most kids who get these services do not yet have a diagnosis.

Sources: Center for Parent Information and Resources, LDH