In addition to giving your baby the best chance for optimal development, an early intervention program can provide support and guidance to your family as you learn about your baby and his special needs. The program can help you deal with the disappointment, anger or sadness you may feel since finding out that your baby has cerebral palsy. It can help other family members learn how to make these early days of caring for and playing with your baby easier and more enjoyable. It can also help you begin to learn how you can help your child become the most capable person he or she can be. Early intervention can help you begin to focus on what your baby can do, rather than on what he cannot do. Early intervention can help you begin to do something positive to guide your baby down the road of growth and development.

As soon as you know that your baby has a motor delay, you should seek early intervention services. If your baby has mild problems and you begin the intervention early, he or she may need services during only the infant and preschool years. If your child’s motor problems are severe, or if he has other related disabilities such as mental retardation, he may continue to need special educational and therapeutic services throughout his school years.

By beginning intervention early, you can help prevent muscle contractures and deformities that might other wise develop and that could make it more difficult for your child to move and take care of him or herself. You can also help alleviate the learning problems your child may have because he cannot handle and relate to toys and objects as other children do.

Early intervention programs for children with cerebral palsy should have a family-centered approach. Because your child depends upon your family for his or her survival and well-being, his or her program should be designed around the goals that you identify as being important for your child and family. For example, you may want you baby to improve his or her ability to suck and swallow so he or she can finish a bottle in thirty minutes. Or once your child is slightly older, you may want him or her to learn the names of his or her favorite foods, so that he or she can communicate at home and with friends and family. You may want to work on your child’s balance while sitting and standing with support so he or she can learn to walk alone. These types of goals are known as functional outcomes, because they are intended to help your child function as normally and independently as possible within your family and community.

Occasionally, early intervention is approached as a child-centered service, rather than a family-centered service. You may find a program that resembles a preschool or elementary school program that has just been moved down to a younger level. The teacher and therapists determine goals and objectives for children, and parents get reports of what their child is able to do with each of his or her specialists. If your child is placed in such a program, try to find ways to show the program staff that you as the parents are valuable members of the team. Remember, you have information about your child relevant to the goals of the professionals, and you also have a need to know about adaptive handling, positioning and learning experiences for your baby. Your child needs your input and support to make the most of his or her early intervention program.