Message from your EI Supervisors
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Dear Families,
Our thoughts continue to be with our Early Intervention families during these unprecedented times. We hope that you are all staying healthy and safe. Welcome to our second edition of our Early Intervention Newsletter! We are excited to continue to keep our families updated, showcase exciting activities happening in our early intervention program, notify families of trainings and workshops, and regularly share resources. Please visit the DCIU website for organization and program updates, COVID-19 information, resources, and e-learning technology support!
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your child's service providers or service coordinator. If you need assistance in connecting with your child's team, you may message
EI@dciu.org
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Continuity of Educational Services
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It's hard to believe that we are in our 6th week of providing remote learning services! Virtual circle time, related services teletherapy, parent coaching, and online learning activities are occurring daily. Our teachers and therapists continue to find new and exciting ways to bring Early Intervention services to our students.
As we approach the summer months, please note that DCIU Early Intervention plans on continuing to provide services virtually during our summer session. More detailed communication about summer services is forthcoming in a letter to our EI families.
Be sure to check out our "Spotlight on Programs and Resources" section to see how our speech-language therapists are using their creativity and technology to provide instruction and support to students during this time.
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Early Intervention needs your help!
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Parents,
YOU can help guide the efforts at the statewide and local levels to improve services and results for children and families by completing the 2020 OCDEL Early Intervention Family Survey. Click the link below and let YOUR voice be heard!
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Spotlight on Programs and Resources
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May is Better Hearing and Speech Month
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Each May, Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of ASHA members in providing life-altering treatment. We are so fortunate to have such a talented group of speech-language therapists in our program! Kim Cott, Assistant Supervisor of DCIU's Speech and Language Program, gathered information about how the Early Intervention Speech-Language Therapists are "Taking on Teletherapy"! For more information, resources and activities, please follow this link:
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Online Resource: Sesame Street Town Hall
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The ABCs of Covid-19: A CNN/Sesame Street Town Hall for Kids and Parents" will air on Saturday, May 30. It will tackle issues such as summer safety, play dates, schooling and how kids and families around the world are creatively coping during these challenging times.
The 60-minute town hall will feature experts and "Sesame Street" characters -- including Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Rosita and Grover -- answering questions submitted by families.
The Special airs on Saturday, 5/30/2020 at 10:00am
For more information, including how to watch, click here:
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STEAM Activity of the Week
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Preschool Early Intervention Teacher Megan Gilligan creates STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) lessons for her students and has agreed to share activities for our newsletter! The following links provide information about STEAM in preschool as well as this week's activity, Making play dough! Miss Megan's friends Jackson, Joey, and Mikey had tons of fun making play dough with Miss Megan during their Remote Learning sessions!
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In this issue, Dr. Esther Bubb, Coordinator of Student Services and Behavioral Supports for DCIU provides us with information on how to continue to support your child on making gains while our in-person instruction is suspended.
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In a time where our lives have been so dramatically changed, it is critically important for us to take care of ourselves so that we can take care of our loved ones!
The following article provides additional information for prioritizing self-care, especially during this time.
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Upcoming Parent Training Opportunity
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Session 2: Behavior Supports for Parents and Caregivers
Thursday, 6/11/2020
5:00-6:00pm
Meeting ID: 564 288 2708
Password: 32480515
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The DCIU EI program will be on a scheduled program break from 6/13/2020-7/5/2020. Our summer session begins on Monday, 7/6/2020 and runs through Friday, 8/7/2020.
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Reminder for Kindergarten Eligible Families
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If your child is currently receiving early intervention services, and you are planning to enroll him/her in kindergarten or first grade in your school district for Fall 2020, please contact your school district to complete the registration process.
If registration is delayed, your child could be placed in regular education kindergarten or first grade without special education services at the start of school. You would still have the right, however, to request that the district evaluate your child to determine his/her need for special education.
If your child is approaching kindergarten age and you decide not to enroll him or her in a public or non-public kindergarten program, your child may receive preschool early intervention services, if he/she continues to be eligible, during the kindergarten year. If your child is approaching the age of entry for first grade in your local school district, he or she will not be eligible for early intervention services for Fall 2020.
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Do you need tech support?
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Please visit the parent section of our e-learning toolkit for more information and resources for using technology to keep your child connected to his/her early intervention service providers.
Should you experience a technical issue with the tools provided to you as part of the remote education plan, please send us an email at
parentsupport@dciu.org
. Please include your name, phone number, and the best time to reach you. A support representative will reach out to you within 24 hours to assist.
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About DCIU Preschool
Early Intervention
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Delaware County Intermediate Unit
200 Yale Avenue
Morton, PA 19070
Phone: 610-938-9000
Fax: 610-938-9887
www.dciu.org
Follow us on social media!
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General Information
All parents are concerned about their child's development. We can help. Early Intervention through DCIU is designed to help children with special needs from age three to before they enter kindergarten. Every child has both areas of strength and of need. Every child benefits when developmental delays, disabilities and special needs are identified and addressed early in life. Preschool children can receive many types of services if they have an identified developmental delay or disability in at least one of the following areas:
· Adaptive development
· Cognitive development
· Communication development
· Physical development
· Social-emotional development
Contact DCIU's Early Intervention Services (610) 938-2830 ext. 6502 or 6503. A secretary will record some basic information and ask you about your concerns about your child or click here for online intake form.
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