The first three years of a child’s life are a period of amazing growth. Although no two children develop, grow and learn in the same way or at the same pace, they do develop in certain predictable ways.
Early ACCESS is Iowa’s system for providing early intervention services. It is available to families with an infant or toddler (birth to age 3) who have a health or physical condition that may affect his/her growth, including developmental delays in the ability to play, think, talk, or move.
There are almost 60 Early ACCESS service providers at Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency, including:
- Early ACCESS service coordinators
- Audiologists
- Early Childhood special education teachers
- Occupational therapists
- Physical therapists
- Speech-language pathologists
- Teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing
- Teachers of the visually impaired
Early ACCESS providers partner with Early Head Start, Child Health Specialty Clinics, 1st Five, WIC, and other community agencies.
Anyone can refer a child under the age of 3 to Early ACCESS, including parents, family members, medical providers and childcare providers. Persons who are not a family member must have the family’s permission before making a referral.There is no cost to families for Early ACCESS services and support.
Referrals can be made by contacting Ashlie Jergens, Prairie Lakes AEA intake coordinator by email at ajergens@plaea.org or by phone at 866-540-3858 ext. 56043 or 712-335-6043; or tThrough the Iowa Family Support Network at https://www.iafamilysupportnetwork.org/families/make-a-referral
