On November 29, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a federal law that changed what school could look like for kids with disabilities.  The law, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, came after years of work by families, advocates and lawmakers.  Before IDEA, many children with disabilities were kept out of public school or did not get the support they needed.  The law opened classrooms and set new rules about access and support.

In California, IDEA’s impact has been significant.  During the 2023-24 school year, more than 850,000 people, newborn to 22-years old, received special education services.  But support often begins before a child enters school.  Early intervention is part of IDEA, and California’s Early Start program offers these services for babies and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families.

Some of these services and supports may include:

  • Infant development
  • Assistive technology
  • Family training, counseling, and home visits
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Sign language and cued language services
  • Speech and language services
  • Vision services

As children grow, many transition from Early Start into preschool or other school services.  This steady path gives children continued support to learn in ways that were not available before IDEA.

There’s still work to be done, especially addressing the growing need for services. Fifty years later, IDEA continues to guide how children and families are supported, and we remain committed to its mission.

 

Learn more about Early Start

To know if your child qualifies for Early Start services, please contact the regional center in your area.

Learn about Early Start on our website:

People who already receive services from any of our regional centers can reach out to the Baby Line at (800) 515-BABY (2229) with questions.

 


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