Children born with developmental delays or autism have a better chance of improving their growth and level of achievement if their symptoms are recognized early. Once symptoms surface, children can be enrolled into Early Intervention, a free program provided by New York state that provides therapy and education for children as young as 10 months old.

According to the website Autism Speaks, one in 110 babies is born with autism.

The Trudell family’s son T.J., 2, was diagnosed with autism at a very young age and is currently enrolled in an Early Intervention program where he receives speech and occupational therapy as well as special education at home.

“I noticed something was wrong when he was 8 months old,” T.J.’s mother Shelley Trudell said. “So I asked the pediatrician who referred us to Early Intervention to have him evaluated.”

Early Intervention was created through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, making it mandatory for each state to provide eligible children an education that will meet their individual needs. 

“Research shows that Early Intervention services can produce significant improvements by the age of 5,” occupational therapist Amy Hanson said.

Each state must finance this program with state funds or with federal grants.

According to the New York State Department of Health, the 2009 Early Intervention budget was $26.4 million

 “We are very blessed that these services are currently provided free by the state,” T.J.’s father, Travis Trudell said. New York state is facing a massive deficit for the 2010-2011 budget. That gap could mean many New York state families would have to start paying for some of their Early Intervention services.

“If that were to happen it would force us to change our living situation,” Travis Trudell said. “Our kids come first.”

T.J. was just over a year old when he began Early Intervention services for having developmental delays. It wasn’t until T.J. was 2 years old when he was diagnosed with having autistic spectrum disorder.

According to the website WebMD, the severity of autistic symptoms vary by person. Common areas of difficulty include social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and limited interests in activities.

Social interaction areas include eye contact, an unwillingness to interact with other children the same age and difficulty understanding another person’s feelings.

Verbal and nonverbal areas include a delay or lack of speech and difficulties starting or continuing a conversation.

Limited interests in activity areas include attachment to a certain object, and a need for an everyday routine.

Other common symptoms include over- or under-sensitivity to sight, sounds, smell, taste and touch.

“T.J. was evaluated by Early Intervention in the three main areas, it was decided he needed services twice a week in each area,” Travis said.

Hanson, as well as special education teacher Kelly McIntyre and speech therapist Jennifer Petranchuk work for Connections, a private company that provides Early Intervention programs.

“Our goals with T.J. as a whole with the therapists and the family is to help improve his overall interaction skills,” Hanson said.

T.J.’s therapy sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays average about 45 minutes each and the success of the session relies on his ability to cooperate.

“On Fridays, his occupational and pre-school teacher comes to the home and they do all different types of activities,” Travis said.  “Everything from blowing bubbles and having him try and pop each individual bubble makes him use his motor skills, which is something you and I don’t even blink at, but it’s something he struggles with.”  

Hanson focuses on his fine motor skills, which will help develop the small muscles in his hands through various art and craft projects and also sensory processing skills that help him take in the information from the environment and have provide the correct response.

“The progress he has made is outstanding compared to where he was,” Travis said. “He communicates drastically more and he is much more aware of his surroundings.”

McIntyre works with T.J. on his play and social skills by playing appropriately with toys on a give-and-take interaction.

“T.J. has been doing well in imitation in play,” Petranchuk said. “The basics for communication are imitation and turn-taking. We work a lot on that.”

Petranchuk works with T.J. on his communication skills through repetition and recognition. This session will build on his nonverbal communication through sign language. 

“Each therapy session T.J. goes through wouldn’t be effective without the other,” Travis said.