• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Get Support – Call 1-888-MITO-411

  • Shop
  • Events
  • Donate
MitoAction

MitoAction

Support, Education, Outreach and Advocacy for Children and Adults Living with Mitochondrial Disease

  • Mitochondrial Disease
    • About Mito
      • New Patient Kit
      • Types of Mitochondrial Diseases
      • Symptoms
      • Treatment
      • Mito FAQ’s
      • Mitochondrial Disease News
    • Diagnosis & Care
      • Diagnosing Mitochondrial Disease
      • Find a Mito Doctor
      • What is a Mito Cocktail?
      • Mito Sick Protocol
      • Clinical Trials & Studies
    • Day to Day with Mito
      • Living with Mitochondrial Disease
      • Care Management
      • Managing Your Energy
      • Traveling with Mito
      • Navigating COVID-19
    • For Medical Professionals
      • Mitochondrial Care Network
      • Monthly Expert Series
  • Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders
    • About FAODs
      • Types of FAOD
      • Symptoms
      • Diagnosis
      • Treatment
    • FAOD Programs and Support
      • New Patient Kit
      • FAOD Support Calls
      • FAOD Experts Series
      • FAOD Resources
      • International Metabolic Conference
  • Programs & Support
    • Support
      • Mito411
      • MitoAction Memories
      • MitoPlaydates
      • MitoSocials
      • MitoChampions
      • Support Calls
      • Positive Peach Packages
    • Programs
      • Dalia’s Wish
      • Matthew Harty Camper Fund
      • Marcel’s Way Family Fund
      • MitoSantas
      • MyMito App
    • Education
      • Monthly Expert Series
      • Wondering Wednesdays
      • Energy In Action Podcast
      • Energy 4 Education
      • Patient Education Forums
      • International Metabolic Conference
    • Resources & Planning
      • Health Insurance
      • Disability Benefits
      • Mobility Devices
      • Vehicle Modification
      • Estate Planning
      • Medical Child Abuse
  • Join the Cause
    • Giving
      • Donate
      • Honor and Memorial Giving
      • Another Helping
      • Matching Gifts
      • Shop for MitoAction
      • Giving Tuesday – Ways to Give
    • Events
      • International Metabolic Conference
      • MitoAction Energy Walks
      • Sandra K. Russell Derby Day Benefit for Mito
      • Matthew Harty Camper Fund Events
    • Volunteer
      • Host a MitoSocial
      • Host a MitoPlaydate
      • Create a Fundraiser
      • MitoChampions
      • Share Your Ideas
    • Raise Your Voice
      • Take Legislative Action
      • Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Connect on Social
    • Our Team
    • Meet Our Partners
    • Newsletter Signup
  • Show Search

Ages 0-3: Preschool and Early Intervention

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Education starts at birth. Between the ages of 0 and 3 years of age, putting the proper supports in place is a must. Knowing where to find them is not always as easy. So step one, understand what options are available to you and your child. At these ages you would want to learn about the following programs, which are often referred to as “Individual Family Service Plans” (IFSP) and/or “Early Intervention Plans.” Truly, the IFSP is supported by early intervention plans, but sometimes the two names are interchanged.

These services are funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C. They are designed to meet the early intervention needs of your child , birth to 3, who qualify as an infant or toddler with either a developmental or physical disability. The regulations governing these services specifically include inborn errors of metabolism as a qualification criteria under physical or mental conditions that affect development.

These programs will support your family as well as your child as he/she attempts to reach basic milestones in  development. They will develop a plan to address the whole child’s educational needs to include:

  1. Physical Development
  2. Cognitive Development
  3. Communication Development
  4. Social or Emotional Development, and
  5. Adaptive Development.

When milestones within the above areas are not being reached, IFSP’s  early intervention becomes a huge asset in aiding families to build strong educational foundations and building blocks.

Below is a possible listing of newborn signs of mito, which could lead to the need for early interventions and the writing of an Individual Family Support Plan (IFSP) for support. Mito newborns can present with any of the following signs and symptoms from birth onward:

  • Seizures
  • Vomiting
  • Jaundice
  • Diarrhea
  • Failure to thrive
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Cyanosis
  • Difficulty sucking and swallowing
  • Hypothermia
  • Fevers with no known origins
  • Lethargy
  • Odd odor
  • Neurological issues
  • Lack of reflexes
  • Weakened levels of alertness
  • Dysmorphic features
  • Large liver or spleen
  • Hyperactivity
  • Irritability
  • Sepsis, SIDS, or syndrome like symptoms that present as “shock”

These possible presentations of symptoms and a mitochondrial disease diagnosis have brought you here, where you, your family, and child will find support, both emotionally and educationally.

As early intervention programs begin at birth, the support for your entire family through the establishment of an IFSP will be a valuable tool in aiding your family to obtain the necessary supports that you may need. Many other early interventions from technical access, to mobility options, and emotional support groups are offered and supported through your IFSP.

It is very IMPORTANT to remember, that as your child reaches age 3, the IFSP will probably change status from an IFSP to an Individual Education Plan or IEP (covered underneath Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act). Each individual state has the option of allowing children to remain in Part C coverage with an IFSP until the age of kindergarten, at the state’s discretion.

However, you, as the parent, also have the option to refuse continued Early Intervention Services and insist that your child be considered for an IEP at any time beyond the age of 3. Many parents learn early on to never release or sign off of their child’s IFSP supports until the IEP has been established and qualified. With the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA, Part C coverage, the IFSP must include a transition plan to be initiated before the release from Early Intervention Services.

This transition plan is designed to create a “seamless transition” between Part C coverage and Part B coverage and must include

1) “steps for the child with the disability and his or her family to exit from the program” and
2)”any transition services needed by that child and his or her family” (§303.344h).

Below are additional resources for early intervention:

  • Getting Started with Early Intervention
  • A Child Developmental Checklist: Find Out When Early Intervention Or Developmental Therapy May Be Needed
  • Early Intervention Defined
  • Early Intervention and Individual Family Service Plans
  • Special Education Glossary
  • Ages 0-3: Preschool and Early Intervention
  • Ages 11-14: Middle School
  • Ages 14-18: High School and Beyond
  • Ages 3-5: Preschool
  • Ages 5-10: Elementary School
  • Art Therapy
  • Home Schooling

Upcoming
Events

View All
Jun 4
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Traveling with an FAOD

Jun 8
8:15 am - 9:45 am Event Series

FAOD Monthly Support Call

Jun 9
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Event Series

Weekly Support Call

View Calendar

Expert
Series

View All

Upcoming Presentations

  • There are no upcoming events.

Last Presentation

Pyruvate Dehydrogenase, Compassionate Use & Clinical Trials
Presented April 17, 2023

P.O. Box 310
Novi, MI 48376
(888) 648-6228
info@mitoaction.org

  • Support
  • Resources
  • Donate
  • Events
  • Subscribe
©2023 MitoAction. All Rights Reserved. Website by ThinkGenetic, Inc.

Privacy Policy. Terms of Use.