Birth Injury Answers

Early Intervention starter kit

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The short answer

You can refer your own child. No doctor referral, no diagnosis, and the evaluation is free. 1

Print this, make the call, and write the date down. The 45 day timeline starts from your referral.

The numbers, up front

Who can refer
A parent can refer their own child directly, without a doctor referral or a diagnosis 1
The timeline
The evaluation and, if eligible, the first plan meeting must happen within 45 days of the referral 1
Where services happen
In the child's natural environment to the maximum extent appropriate, which usually means home or child care 1
At age 3
Early intervention ends and the school district takes over, with different eligibility rules and a transition planned in advance 2

What to say when you call

"I would like to make a referral for my child for an early intervention evaluation."

Then give:

  • Your child's name and date of birth.
  • Your contact details.
  • Your specific concerns, with examples.

Be specific. Not "I think he is behind." Instead: "He is 8 months old and not rolling over. He uses his right hand and keeps his left fisted. He was born at 30 weeks."

Date referred:

Who I spoke to:

What they said would happen next:

What I have noticed

Write examples with dates. Specific observations move things faster.

The milestone tracker prints an age-by-age checklist built on the CDC set. 3

My goals, in my words

The plan is meant to reflect what your family wants. "I want him to be able to sit at the table with us for dinner" is a better goal than "improve trunk control", and it gets to the same place. 1

What a good plan contains

  • Your child's current abilities
  • The outcomes you want, in your words
  • Each service, with how often, how long and where
  • Who provides each service
  • Who coordinates it, and how to reach them
  • Services in your home or child care setting where appropriate 1
  • A home program you can actually do
  • A review date

If you disagree

Ask for the decision in writing, with the reasons. Ask for the evaluation reports. Ask for a review at any time.

Part C includes mediation, state complaint procedures and due process hearings. 1

Your state Parent Training and Information Center helps with this for free. 4 So does your Family-to-Family Health Information Center. 5

Being persistent is not being difficult.

The move to school at age 3

Start the transition about six months early, at around 2 years and 6 months. 1

Eligibility under school special education is different, so do not assume it carries over. 2

See IEP and 504 plans.

Where these facts come from

  1. U.S. Government Publishing Office, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 34 CFR Part 303, Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. 2025. www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-30. Link checked September 3, 2026.
  2. U.S. Department of Education. IDEA Part B, Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities. 2025. sites.ed.gov/idea/statute-chapter-33/subchapter-ii. Link checked September 3, 2026.
  3. American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC, Pediatrics. Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools. 2022. publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/149/3/e2021052138. Link checked September 3, 2026.
  4. Center for Parent Information and Resources. Find Your Parent Center. 2025. www.parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center/. Link checked September 3, 2026.
  5. Family Voices. Family-to-Family Health Information Centers. 2025. familyvoices.org/affiliate-organizations/. Link checked September 3, 2026.