One-year-old Fletcher Andler has made tremendous strides in Northeast Arc’s Early Intervention (EI) services—supporting the theory that the earlier the intervention begins, the better.
Fletcher, who turned one in May, came to Northeast Arc at nine-months-old, when he was not yet crawling. His childcare center had expressed some concern to his family about his gross motor development, particularly his ability to sit independently or roll over when he was six-months-old.
“I had only heard great things about the Arc, so I took their advice and was excited to work with professionals,” said his father, Sam Andler. “It’s been incredible.”
Northeast Arc’s EI services are available to families of children from birth to age three, and consist of home visits, center-based visits, assessments, parent-child groups, parent support groups, service coordination, referral and transition assistance. There is no cost for EI services, and families can self-refer if they have any concerns about their child’s development. Services are provided by a team of professionals representing a variety of disciplines, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, social workers and developmental specialists.
EI services are for those with developmental delays, as in walking or speaking; those at risk for delays in development due to risk factors related to birth and/or environmental circumstances; or children with identified disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome and autism. Though Fletcher did not initially qualify based on an eligibility evaluation, he was placed in clinical judgement for six months and has worked with physical therapist Keri Greely weekly.
“He walked just before his first birthday, and that was one of our goals,” said Andler. “He’s doing all the things he’s supposed to do. We’re proud of him, and grateful to Keri. It’s been wonderful for our family, and even for Fletcher’s classroom. Keri came into his class to work with him, and all of the children really benefited.”
“Fletcher is a true example of an early intervention success story,” said Greely. “He was just a little behind, but he’s doing beautifully. Within a few months, he’s made so many gains. We’ll reassess in August, but his motor development is really on par. He’s meeting all his milestones of crawling, rolling, pulling to stand and walking. He’s doing so well.”
Greely says it is most satisfying when a client is able to move on from services, even before aging out at age three. She expects Fletcher will not need further EI services.
“We always make sure families have a good transition plan, but it’s a good thing when they test out,” she said. “I’ve been working for Northeast Arc for over 20 years and it’s such an amazing position to be in. I absolutely love seeing the little daily gains they make, and also following the successes over time.”