About Technical Assistance
The Vermont I-Team Early Intervention Project provides technical assistance (TA) at no charge to teams of children with complex needs. TA is a process of collaborative consultation to the local team including the family to extend their knowledge and skills and to model for them collaborative service planning and implementation.
Sample Technical Assistance Activities
- Connecting teams and families with resources
- Identifying, modeling, and coaching strategies to collaboratively support development
- Supporting teams and families to embed intervention strategies into daily routines
- Helping teams identify and obtain equipment for seating, travel, daily care, learning, and communication
- Helping teams to adapt materials and home settings
- Identifying the need for additional referrals
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for I-Team Early Intervention services?
Families and teams requesting an Early Intervention Project consultation will likely answer yes to all of the following statements. Teams are welcome to contact the Early Intervention Project if they would like to further explore whether their child meets the eligibility criteria outlined below.
- The child is currently between the ages of birth and 3 years old and has been referred to or is receiving services through Part C Early Intervention.
- The child has been identified as having or is suspected of having one of the following categories of diagnosis:
a. Neurodevelopmental disabilities (e.g., Autism, Rett Syndrome)
b. Genetic disorders significantly impacting overall development (e.g., Cornelia de Lange, DiGeorge Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Angelman’s Syndrome)
c. Congenital disorders (e.g., Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum)
d. Acquired neurological injuries (e.g., HIE, PVL, Cerebral Palsy, CMV, Meningitis, Non-accidental trauma)
e. Disability resulting in combined vision and hearing loss (e.g., CHARGE, Usher Syndrome)
- The child has a complex profile of medical and/or developmental needs that significantly impacts participation in daily activities and routines. A child with a complex profile would likely be receiving or be eligible for at least weekly CIS services and have at least 2 CIS providers.
- The child could benefit from significant individualized supports to access and engage within their home and community environments. Individualized supports may include adaptive equipment, augmentative communication options, assistive technology, individualized instructional practices, and environmental modifications.
- The team would benefit from training, coaching, modeling and professional collaboration in order to best meet the needs of the child.
Can I still fill out a paper referral?
We prefer online referrals but if that is not possible, please contact Pam Cummings, pamela.cummings@uvm.edu to receive a paper referral.
What happens after a service request is submitted?
After you submit a service request, we will assign you a Point Person from the I-Team Early Intervention Team. Your Point Person will then schedule an intake meeting.
NEW: Does I-Team Early Intervention do assessments?
Our project does not provide assessments for infants and toddlers. We do provide consultation and training to early intervention providers about assessments and can work with your team to determine the most appropriate tools to use.
NEW: Does I-Team Early Intervention provide direct services to infants and toddlers?
We do not provide direct therapy services to infants and toddlers. Our project is a consultative and training project. We work with the child's early intervention team to support their direct work with the child and family as identified in our intake and ongoing communication with the team. Our Family Resources Consultant works with the full team and can be a direct source of support for families.
