Early Intervention starter kit
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The short answer
You can refer your own child. No doctor referral, no diagnosis, and the evaluation is free. 1
Print this, make the call, and write the date down. The 45 day timeline starts from your referral.
The numbers, up front
- Who can refer
- A parent can refer their own child directly, without a doctor referral or a diagnosis 1
- The timeline
- The evaluation and, if eligible, the first plan meeting must happen within 45 days of the referral 1
- Where services happen
- In the child's natural environment to the maximum extent appropriate, which usually means home or child care 1
- At age 3
- Early intervention ends and the school district takes over, with different eligibility rules and a transition planned in advance 2
What to say when you call
"I would like to make a referral for my child for an early intervention evaluation."
Then give:
- Your child's name and date of birth.
- Your contact details.
- Your specific concerns, with examples.
Be specific. Not "I think he is behind." Instead: "He is 8 months old and not rolling over. He uses his right hand and keeps his left fisted. He was born at 30 weeks."
Date referred:
Who I spoke to:
What they said would happen next:
What I have noticed
Write examples with dates. Specific observations move things faster.
The milestone tracker prints an age-by-age checklist built on the CDC set. 3
My goals, in my words
The plan is meant to reflect what your family wants. "I want him to be able to sit at the table with us for dinner" is a better goal than "improve trunk control", and it gets to the same place. 1
What a good plan contains
- Your child's current abilities
- The outcomes you want, in your words
- Each service, with how often, how long and where
- Who provides each service
- Who coordinates it, and how to reach them
- Services in your home or child care setting where appropriate 1
- A home program you can actually do
- A review date
If you disagree
Ask for the decision in writing, with the reasons. Ask for the evaluation reports. Ask for a review at any time.
Part C includes mediation, state complaint procedures and due process hearings. 1
Your state Parent Training and Information Center helps with this for free. 4 So does your Family-to-Family Health Information Center. 5
Being persistent is not being difficult.
The move to school at age 3
Start the transition about six months early, at around 2 years and 6 months. 1
Eligibility under school special education is different, so do not assume it carries over. 2
See IEP and 504 plans.
Where these facts come from
- U.S. Government Publishing Office, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 34 CFR Part 303, Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities. 2025. www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-III/part-30. Link checked September 3, 2026.
- U.S. Department of Education. IDEA Part B, Assistance for Education of All Children with Disabilities. 2025. sites.ed.gov/idea/statute-chapter-33/subchapter-ii. Link checked September 3, 2026.
- American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC, Pediatrics. Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools. 2022. publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/149/3/e2021052138. Link checked September 3, 2026.
- Center for Parent Information and Resources. Find Your Parent Center. 2025. www.parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center/. Link checked September 3, 2026.
- Family Voices. Family-to-Family Health Information Centers. 2025. familyvoices.org/affiliate-organizations/. Link checked September 3, 2026.