Who is Eligible?

California Early Start-Birth to Age 3

Infants and toddlers, birth to age three are eligible for SDRC Early Start program if they require early intervention services due to one of the following:

1. Developmental Delay

Developmental delay exists if there is a significant discrepancy between the child's current level of functioning and the expected level of development for his or her age in one or more area. Areas of development are Cognitive (thinking and learning), Physical (large and small motor movements), Communication (understanding and speaking), Social/Emotional (getting along with self and others), and Adaptive (taking care of self).

2. Established Risk

An established risk condition exists when an infant or toddler has a condition which has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay. An example of an established risk condition is a child born with Down Syndrome.

3. High Risk

High risk for a developmental disability exists when a child has two or more factors that require early intervention services. Such factors may include, but are not limited to, problems associated with prematurity, feeding or muscle tone problems, and children whose parents have a developmental disability.

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Over Age 3

Developmental Disability means a disability that is attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, other conditions similar to mental retardation that require treatment similar to that required by individuals with mental retardation.

The Developmental Disability must

(1) Originate before age eighteen;
(2) Be likely to continue indefinitely;
(3) Constitute a substantial handicap for the individual

“Substantial handicap” means a condition which results in major impairment of cognitive and/or social functioning. Moreover, a substantial handicap represents a condition of sufficient impairment to require interdisciplinary planning and coordination of special or generic services to assist the individual in achieving maximum potential.
(b) Since an individual's cognitive and/or social functioning are many-faceted, the existence of a major impairment shall be determined through an assessment which shall address aspects of functioning including, but not limited to:

(1) Communication skills;
(2) Learning;
(3) Self-care;
(4) Mobility;
(5) Self-direction;
(6) Capacity for independent living;
(7) Economic self-sufficiency.

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San Diego, CA, 92123
phone: (858) 576-2996
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