As a parent of a special needs child, you quickly find that being organized and prepared is essential for navigating the often complicated healthcare system. One of the most important aspects of this journey is keeping thorough records of your child’s medical history.

If you’ve met me - you know I am actually quite *unorganized*. My house - a disaster. My laundry - chaotic at best. But my children’s medical records? I’m a finely tuned machine after years of trial and error.

Early Intervention services are mandated by federal law, but how each state implements them varies. Below I have listed the “nitty gritty” and details you should know. At the very end, I’ll list out information for my local families.

One of the most anxiety inducing moments of my life was sending my son to kindergarten. He had been diagnosed with autism a year prior, we had the IEP ready to go, his BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) had equipped us with the knowledge and supports to start school strong. But we had just moved to a new state, so along with all the other stress that comes with a life change, he had to walk into a school where no one knew him. He was just a name on a paper - a kid on an IEP.