Early Intervention and Special Education

First Steps (Indiana’s Free Early Intervention Program)

Ages 0–35 months:

Services include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and developmental therapies.

Families can call phone numbers listed on Indiana First Steps to request a free, in-home evaluation. The evaluation is usually completed within about a month.

If the child qualifies based on their evaluation, therapies are provided free of charge.

Therapies are usually provided at home or at the child’s daycare.

Every state has a public Early Intervention program for children 0-35 months. Indiana’s program is called First Steps. The programs have other names in other states. All Early Intervention programs are provided through state-run programs under IDEA Part C.

Special Education Services (Ages 3–5 years, and 5-21 years):

Ages 3-5 years:

All children are eligible for public school (kindergarten) when they turn 5. Children with special needs like autism are eligible for some free public education services when they turn 3.

The types of free education services offered by your local public school include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and more. Those are the most common.

To see if your child is eligible for services, call your local public school’s special education office and request an evaluation. The school tries to complete all evaluations within 30 days of request.

If the child receives an educational classification of “autism” based on their evaluation, the school will create a personalized plan (called an IEP) for what therapies they need.

The therapies are provided free of charge.

The therapies are usually offered at the local public school.

The therapies are provided under IDEA Part B through public schools.

 

South Bend's Special Education services for 3-5: SNAP (Special Need and Abilities Preschool)

Elkhart's Special Education services for 3-5: PACE (Preschool Assisting Children's Education)

Mishawaka's Special Education services for 3-5: Growing Together Preschool 

Penn Harris Madison Special Education services for 3-5: Expectional Education Program

Ages 5-21 years:

While your autistic child attends public school, they might receive extra support if they need it because they are autistic. The extra support happens through an IEP or 504 plan, which are legal documents the school must develop and follow. If your child attends private school, the school is not legally obligated to provide extra support, even if the child needs it.

The IEP or 504 plan might include special instruction, classroom aides, speech/language therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral support, and assistive technology.

The services are provided under IDEA Part B through public schools.