Northwest Ohio
Early Intervention
Serving Defiance, Henry, Fulton and Williams Counties
Hello!
We are so glad you are here.
We are the Northwest Ohio team promoting Early Intervention (EI) services to support parents and caregivers in their efforts to enhance the development of their infant or toddler who has developmental delays or disabilities. If you have any concerns, don’t “wait and see” when you can get a second opinion locally.
How it works
If you have a developmental concern about a child between the age of 0 and 3, you can call us or fill out an online referral. You will be screened and then contacted by a local service coordinator that will help determine eligibility. Every family served will have a local team that consists of a service coordinator, service providers, and your family. Your team works with you in your home or other places you and your family spend time to develop a coordinated plan, using your existing supports and resources—and build upon them—to learn to enhance your child’s learning and development.
Anyone can make a referral!
“Starting at around 6 words at her initial screening, she can clearly say over 40 words on her own now after the 4th visit.”
– local parent
Meet some of our team members
Shannon - Williams County
Shannan has been an Early Intervention speech therapist in Williams County for 7 years and in pediatric therapy for almost 19 years. For 12 years, she worked in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit helping premature and medically fragile children learn how to feed.
She says, “Adding the Early intervention aspect has been enlightening to follow the infants after discharge and for those first few years of critical development. I love the direct impact I have on families by being in their homes and finding strategies to improve the quality of oral feedings, or promoting language development.”
Theresa - Fulton County
Theresa is a Physical Therapist for Early Intervention with the Fulton County Board of Developmental Disabilities. She provides physical therapy home visits to coach families to help their child reach their fullest potential.
She says, “I love the ‘light bulb’ moments when a child or family ‘gets it.’ It is rewarding to be a part of a family’s journey and celebrate the successes along the way.”
Amanda - Williams County
Amanda is an Early Intervention Pediatric Occupational Therapist in Williams County. She says, “As an occupational therapist, I work with families whose children need guidance in how they respond to their environment so that their sensory systems are more regulated that they feel more comfortable in their bodies. We play games to work on how to pay attention, take turns, and be patient. We work on hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. I also address behavior and sleep with families, feeding, bathing, and self-care.”
Local families chat about their services
Should I be concerned about my child's development?
All children are unique and develop at their own pace, but there are general milestones that are helpful to understanding your child’s development. Click here to access free development and monitoring screening tools.
You can also give us a call to set up a free screening or refer online now.
What can I expect in Early Intervention?
After referral, your local EI program will assign a service coordinator to your family. Your service coordinator will serve as your primary early intervention contact and will support your family on your journey in EI.
Your service coordinator will put together a team who will determine if your child is eligible for EI. If your child is eligible, the team will work with your family to learn more about your family’s priorities and your child’s needs and work with you to develop a service plan. Learn more.
Are there other resources and supports for my child and family?
There are many resources within your local community, across the state and nationally that might support your family. Your early intervention team will assist you in locating helpful resources, including support and parent-to-parent groups. Learn more.
Still have questions?
Learn more at ohioearlyintervention.org
or call (419) 665-3322