Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my child does not qualify for ESS?
Some doctors or specialists order a specific number of hours of therapy. For example Speech 3 times per week. This is a typical therapy protocol for out-patient services. However, ESS uses a trans- disciplinary approach which is designed to help your family and child develop within a natural environment. In a trans-disciplinary approach to providing services one service provider may fulfill a variety of service roles in your child’s care. For example a physical therapist who is working balance and leg strengthening might incorporate an activity of bubble blowing to help your child work on lip closure to help with speech. ESS services are provided in natural environments rather than in an office or clinic because ESS is intended to support families within the daily happenings of their lives and their communities. Natural settings are places where children without disabilities or delays live, play and learn. These settings can include your home, homes of your friends or family members, child care settings, neighborhood play groups, recreational activities, libraries and other community settings.
What information should I share with ESS?
As the parent, you are the most important member of your child’s team. You will be present during the entire evaluation and are encouraged to participate and share as much as possible with the other members of the team. The ESS providers will ask you questions about your child’s development and may even ask for your help in working with your child during the evaluation. You may also invite any person you wish to the evaluation either to support you or because they know your child and have valuable information to share with the evaluation team. You know your child best and your ESS team looks forward to you sharing your daily routines, priorities, goals, dreams, concerns and what you feel your child and family will benefit from. The information that you share about your child and family is essential to having successful family outcomes. The more information that you are able to provide to the team, the more ESS will be able to assist you in supporting your child’s development. Examples of sharing topics:
• Your child’s likes/dislikes
• Things that frustrate your child
• Ways you are able to calm your child
• Describe your child’s behavior
• Information about changes to your family
• Things your family enjoys doing together
How often is my child reevaluated?
Your child’s service providers will be continually assessing your child’s progress. Consultation with a specialist may occur if there are concerns about a specific area of development. The decision to conduct a formal multi-disciplinary evaluation is made by the IFSP Team. Talk with the rest of the IFSP Team if you would like to request your child have another multi-disciplinary evaluation. The IFSP will be reviewed every six months and modified for the achievements that your child has made. You are an integral part of the review and no changes to the IFSP can be made without your written consent.

The Multi-Disciplinary Evaluation

At the intake visit, the Intake Coordinator will ask for your written consent to evaluate your child. No evaluations can be done without you first giving written permission. A team of providers from at least two different fields (for example; an occupational therapist and a speech therapist) conducts the multi-disciplinary evaluation for eligibility for ESS. The evaluation team will use one of two approved evaluation tools (Hawaii Early Learning Profile (HELP) or Infant Toddler Developmental Assessment (IDA)) to assess all areas of your child’s development, to identify strengths and weaknesses and gain a total picture of your child’s development.  The evaluation will include an assessment of the following areas:

1. Physical Development
2. Cognitive Development
3. Communication Development
4. Social or Emotional Development
5. Adaptive Development

Even if you do not have any concerns about all of the areas of your child’s development, the evaluation will assess each of the 5 developmental areas. It is important to capture your child’s strengths as strength in one area can help in another area. Make sure to ask the Intake Coordinator if you have further questions about the evaluation process or developmental areas. The evaluation usually takes 1-2 hours to complete and review the results. In most cases, the day the evaluation is completed, you will learn whether or not your child is eligible for ESS.

Once the evaluation is completed, the ESS team will discuss whether your child is eligible for services. To determine this, the IFSP team will review the results of the evaluation and other information that you have shared with them.

What if my child is found eligible for ESS?

What if my child is not found eligible for ESS?