Advises parents of young children to contact the PACER Center and their school districts to learn about districts’ early childhood intervention and special education services. These services can help parents better understand their children and identify how to best meet individual children’s needs. Services can also identify if a child has special needs, which parents should determine as soon as possible because early intervention will allow for the child to be better helped and more ready to learn upon entering kindergarten. Schools will provide service coordinators to individually plan with parents of special needs children for the support services and therapies their children will need, offer tips on how to help their children develop skills at home, and help locate effective community resources and services outside school systems. Lists benchmarks of typical developmental milestones and encourages parents to monitor their child’s early development and to seek help immediately if concerns arise. Consultations are free and parents have final decision-making power in application and use of all services.
