 | | | | | Frequently Asked Questions | | | Parent and professional question and answer section. |
How do I get my child screened?Why does my child need Early Childhood Screening?What is Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)?Who qualifies for Early Childhood Special Education?What is a service coordinator?Why do I need a social worker? My family is not dysfunctional.How can I find childcare for my special needs child?How can I find a Support Group?How can I help my child learn, talk, read, control his behavior...?How do I get my child screened?
Call 348-TOTS to set up a time to have your child screened. There is no cost to families for this service. |
Why does my child need Early Childhood Screening?
Early Childhood Screening is like a check-up for your child's learning and growing. It is also a great opportunity for you to learn about people and places taht can help you help your child.
The early childhood years from birth to the start of kindergarten area an important time of rapid learning and growth. Early Childhood Screening is a quick and simple check of how children are doing between the ages of 3 to 4 years. It identifies, at an early stage, possible learning or health concerns so that children can get needed help before starting school. Early Childhood Screening is not a kindergarten entrance test.
Your child's hearing and vision will be tested. Screeners check for proper physical growth and immunizations. They also evaluate language, motor skills, social/emotional and thinking skills. Following the screening, staff will have a summary interview with the parents. The screening is done using toys in a standardized test. Children usually enjoy the screnning because it is like play to them.
Early Childhood Screening is required for entrance in Minnesota's public schools. Early Childhood Screening is offered throughout the year. |
What is Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)?
Early childhood special education services for your child can mean different things, depending on your child's needs. Educational services can range from speech-language instruction in the child's home, sign language or braille instruction, occupational therapy to specialized classrooms for children needing a more comprehensive program.
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) services in Minneapolis Public Schools are offered to those children who have been identified with a medical diagnosis known to hinder the child’s ability to learn, an educational label of Autism Spectrum Disorder or who show significant developmental delays through a thorough developmental evaluation process.
MPS offers a continuum of ECSE service settings reflecting the natural progression of growth of children from infancy, when babies are typically at home or in a day care setting with one primary caregiver, to preschoolers who are often in preschools or day cares during a portion of their day and have a number of familiar primary adult caregivers. These settings are home based, community based, center based or autism classrooms. |
Who qualifies for Early Childhood Special Education?
Early Childhood special education services in Minneapolis Public Schools are offered to those children who have been identified with a medical diagnosis known to hinder the child's ability to learn, an educational label of Autism Spectrum Disorder or who show significant developmental delays through a thorough developmental evaluation process. |
What is a service coordinator?
A service coordinator helps you with all the services you may need to receive from the county, the school district, the state and from other non-profit agencies. She/he coordinates your Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for children ages birth to three with the family and service providers. You will be able to choose a service coordinator at your IFSP meeting. |
Why do I need a social worker? My family is not dysfunctional.
Hennepin County can provide helpful services to children with special needs. A case management team can help a family find childcare or helpwith parenting a child with behavioral problems. Through the county, parents can also have access to Personal Care Assistant (PCA) or respite care services. They can also help families connect with a host of other helpful services, including finding food, shelter, and jobs. |
How can I find childcare for my special needs child?
Information and links to childcare resources are available in our resources section.
If you need financial assistance for childcare because your family has low income, please call the Front Door at Hennepin County: 612-348-4111. The amount of assistance varies according to family income. There are often waiting lists, so we suggest getting on the list if you think you may need this in the future. |
How can I find a Support Group?
Support groups are often a great help to parents. Meeting other parents who are struggling with some of the same challenges and learning about resources offered to families of children with special needs can be invaluable.
IEIC sponsored support groups
Other metrowide supports groups |
How can I help my child learn, talk, read, control his behavior...?
Learn and develop? Sign up your child for the Minnesota Department of Health's FOLLOW ALONG PROGRAM to check your child's development from ages birth to 5. There is plenty of guidance and information about ways to help your child learn, develop and grow.
Talk and Read?
Talk to your child's teacher. Each child is different in his or her process of learning to talk and read. Here are some articles you can read to get some hints:
- Getting Ready to Talk, Getting Ready to Read
(Family Connections Newsletter, 2003)
- Raising Readers (National Institue for Literacy)
Control his behavior?
Learn about functional behavioral assessments and ways to help your special needs child learn how to control his behavior in this PACER publication:
- Functional Behavioral Assessments and Positive Interventions: What
Parents Need to Know
Eat healthily? For a downloadable booklets on early childhood nutrition from the Bright Futures site of Georgetown University, click on the titles below.
- Infancy
- Early Childhood
- Middle Childhood
A pediatrician or teacher might be able to recommend places to go to get help for the child who really struggles to chew, swallow or has strong food aversions.
Cope with her disability?
For kids with disabilities, realizing that they are different from other kids can sometimes be troubling. Playgroups, social skills groups and support groups can offer help and guidance. If your child is able to, having hobbies and participating extracurricular activites that interest him can make him feel better about himself.
Zigawhat! is a website for kids to help them cope with tips for fitting in and connections to other kids with disabilities.
Lifepages is a website of recreational activities in Minnesota for people with disabilities. |
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