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Latest News

Champaign County Offers Early Intervention Services to Help Young Children Thrive

6/2/2025

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​At the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities, supporting families begins at the very start of a child’s life. For infants and toddlers who are showing signs of a delay, or who are born with conditions that may lead to developmental delays, our Early Intervention team is here to help.

Early Intervention is a statewide system that offers coordinated services to parents of eligible children under the age of three. The program focuses on helping children develop essential skills and supports families in understanding and addressing their child's developmental needs. Services are typically provided in the child's natural environment, such as the home or childcare setting, to promote learning through everyday activities.

Early Intervention (EI) services are available for children from birth to age three who have at least one documented developmental delay or a medical condition known to cause delays. Eligibility is determined through a free, comprehensive evaluation by trained professionals.

Getting started is easy. Anyone—parents, caregivers, doctors, teachers, or even extended family members—can make a referral. Families can begin the process by calling Ohio Early Intervention at 1-800-755-4769 or by completing a simple form online at ohioearlyintervention.org.

If a child qualifies, a personalized plan is developed to support areas of need—whether that’s motor skills, communication, social interaction, or something else. Our certified and licensed staff work closely with families, helping them learn how to incorporate strategies into everyday routines.

My biggest advice to families who are unsure about their child’s development? Don’t wait. Those early years are critical to a child’s growth and future success. These services are free, and we come to you.

If you have questions about services offered by CCBDD, call us at 937-653-5217. And don’t forget to follow us on social media to stay up to date on services, events, and resources.
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Importance of Routines: Lessons from the Ohio Early Intervention Program

10/11/2023

 
Written by: Communications Specialist, Amy Kerrigan
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From birth through the age of 3 years, learning and growth happen quickly. This is a very important time for a child’s body and brain. That is why having a routine, or doing things at the same time every day, is a big deal. Let's talk about routines and why the Ohio Early Intervention program says they are important.

Why Routines Are Great

Imagine knowing what's going to happen each day. Routines do that. When babies and toddlers have routines, they learn about time, what happens next, and they feel safe because of it.  It's a plan that helps teach the order of things, like when you eat breakfast, play, take a nap, and go to bed at night. This creates more predictable behavior.

Routines help a child’s brain get smarter, too. When the child completes tasks in the same order, their brain learns patterns. You might not know this, but brains love patterns! Patterns help brains build memories and figure out how the world works.

Ohio Early Intervention Program and Routines

Ohio Early Intervention (EI) is a statewide program offered through the Champaign County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD). EI is designed to help parents who have concerns about the development of their children, ages birth to 3 years. The CCBDD has a fully trained staff to provide these services to families in Champaign County at no cost to the family. (See end of article for more information about making a referral to the Champaign County EI program.)

Part of the Ohio EI program is helping families make a plan that will encourage a child’s developmental success. The best plans involve creating routines. The EI staff understands that establishing routines within a family will create healthy habits that can continue throughout life. Routines are built around what kids do every day and how to help them learn new skills. This way, a child develops skills while doing things they already enjoy, like playing and eating.

Benefits of Routines
  1. Learning Fun: Babies and toddlers love to play and explore. Routines help them learn while they play. For example, taking a bath is not just about getting clean. Children can learn new words by playing with water and toys. That's fun learning!
  2. Feeling Safe and Healthy: When a child knows what's coming next, they don't get worried. Routines help babies and toddlers feel calm because their day is predictable. Also, when children go to bed at the same time, their bodies get used to it and they sleep better. This makes them healthier.
  3. Practice Makes Perfect: Routines establish time for practicing skills. When a child brushes their teeth every day after breakfast, they become a tooth-brushing pro and build fine-motor skills. When a child sings the same song during clean up, they practice the same words over and over, building speech skills.
  4. Family Time: Routines are a great way to establish regular time in your day for family bonding. For example, when a family has dinner together, they talk about their day and share stories. This builds stronger family bonds and helps the child grow social and emotional skills.
  5. Building Independence: When routines are repeated, skills are enhanced. As skills become easier, babies and toddlers can start doing tasks more independently. This eventually helps a toddler feel like a big kid. And feeling like a big kid builds the child’s confidence. Plus, it’s exciting for parents when their child starts doing things like putting on their own shoes or feeding themselves with a spoon.

How to Make Your Own Routine
It’s obvious that having a routine is amazing, but how can you start one? Here are some tips:

  1. Same Time, Every Day: Have you ever heard the phrase “muscle memory”? The brain is a muscle. Trying to do things like eating, playing, and sleeping at the same time each day builds muscle memory, which helps the brain and body get used to a routine.
  2. Have Fun: Make routines fun by singing songs or talking while you do tasks. For example, when it is lunch time, sing your favorite songs about food. Or while cleaning up toys, say the names of toys and where you are placing it. Studies show that children learn quicker when the task is fun, and they are happy.
  3. Set Reminders: Sometimes, family members might need help sticking to routines. Set timers or use apps that can alert you of the time. Verbally remind children that it's time for dinner or time to read a bedtime story.
  4. Be Flexible: Routines are amazing, but sometimes things change. It's okay to be flexible! It is less stressful to keep a routine when you can adjust it a little bit. If it helps, think ahead and make a plan for changing the routine and share the plan with your child.

Remember, routines are like a secret weapon to becoming a super learner and explorer. The CCBDD Early Intervention program understands the importance of routine and wants to share that knowledge with all families.
​
If you live in Champaign County, suspect that your child has a developmental delay, and need help; please, contact the Champaign County Board of DD office at (937) 653-5217 or the Early Intervention Service Coordinator at 937-658-8443.

The Importance of Outdoor Play in Children Birth-3

7/11/2023

 
Written by: Stacey Patterson, Early Intervention Service Coordinator
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Summer is in full swing and so are young children! We all know that summer play is fun, but it is also an important developmental tool.

Outdoor play not only encourages more vigorous play, such as running and jumping, which helps build gross motor skills, it also helps with the mental health of our youngest children. Regular exposure to the great outdoor can help reduce anger and aggression, even in young children. Playing outside also encourages curiosity, exploration and problem solving!
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No child is too young to enjoy being outside. Even infants benefit from fresh air each day. Try doing tummy time on a blanket in a shady spot. In addition to being an important gross motor activity, it can also be a great sensory experience! 

CDC Outdoor Play Recommendations:
  • Children from 12-36 months should get at least 60 minutes of outside time each day.
  • Birth -6 months-no sunscreen. Be sure to keep infants out of the direct sun.
  • 6 months and up-apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside, then every 2 hours after that.
  • Be sure to dress your child in loose, light weight clothing.​
  • Provide children with plenty of water but avoid drinks that are very cold or have too much sugar.
Infographic with tips/CDC recommendations for outdoor play in the summer.
For more information on outdoor play, check out these additional resources:

​https://www.cdc.gov/earlycare/resources/outdoor-play-and-safety.html

https://healthychildren.org/English/family-life/power-of-play/Pages/playing-outside-why-its-important-for-kids.aspx

https://www.parentingexperttomom.com/the-best-outdoor-activities-for-babies/

Early Intervention Play in the Park Slideshow

Language/Literacy Connection: The Importance of Reading to Young Children

3/16/2023

 
Written by: Stacey Patterson, Early Intervention Service Coordinator
PictureDevelopmental Specialist, Kala Roman demonstrates what reading can look like with young children.
Since joining the Champaign County Early Intervention Team last June, I have been happy to hear the conversations between Early Intervention Service Providers and families about the importance of reading to their very young children.

Some concerns parents have about reading to their children are often that children have no interest in books or that children just destroy the books. These are valid concerns!

However, coming from a preschool background, I know the importance of reading to children. Reading to your child during infancy is important in building that language/literacy connection. Children learn to talk when adults engage them in conversations, which often happens during reading.

But how can you help your child learn to speak by reading?
I think we all have the illusion that reading to a child should be a quiet, peaceful experience. Your child sits on your lap and listens intently as you read them a story…

But it usually doesn’t happen that way! At least not right at the start. You must show your child that reading can be enjoyable, just as you would demonstrate any other skill you are trying to teach them. It’s also important to understand how reading to a child should look, according to your child’s age.

Expectations for read with infants
Infants, up to about a year old, need fabric, plastic, or board books that can be handled without fear of being torn apart. Books need to have brightly colored, easily recognizable pictures, with only one or two words per page. Look for books that label items such as animals, colors, etc. While you look at the book, have a conversation with your child about the pictures you are seeing on the pages. Encourage your child to point to the pictures as you read.

Make sure your child can see your face. Younger infants especially learn so much from your facial expressions. This is how you begin to teach them that reading time can be enjoyable. If you are not having fun, your child will not have fun either!

Expectations for read with toddlers
Older infants and toddlers enjoy board books with just a few words on each page. Eric Carle books are a favorite of mine for this age. Let them turn pages (with your help if necessary). Point out the pictures, ask them questions even if they don’t have the words to answer yet. This is how children learn the back-and-forth nature of conversation. Again, sit so that your child can see your face. Make faces or use silly voices while reading to engage your child.

Reading a book isn’t just about the words on the page, it’s about the experience you create.

When you choose books for older toddlers, you can begin to introduce more traditional paperback picture books. Rhyming books are a great way to have fun with words!  But again, it’s up to adults to teach children to handle books with care. Store books on a bookshelf (or something similar) to help children understand that they aren’t meant to be on the floor, written on, or stepped on. Children are young but usually capable of learning how to take care of books.

The process of reading the words, pointing to the words and pictures, and having a conversation about the story all encourage language. It helps your child make the connection between words on a page and the everyday items all around them. These are beginning reading skills, and it just builds from there.
Reading to your child helps them learn to use their own words, and later, helps them learn to read! It’s kind of magical when you see it happen! 😊

RESOURCES FOR READING
Getting books to read with your child does not have to be expensive. If you haven’t already, check out your local library. They have books for children of all ages.
https://www.champaigncountylibrary.org/
https://www.stparispubliclibrary.org/index.html
https://www.mechanicsburg.lib.oh.us/
https://www.champaign.lib.oh.us/category/branches/north-lewisburg?page=22

You can also sign up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. This is a free service that mails one new, age appropriate book to your child each month until they are 5 years old. Use the link below to sign up. 
https://ohioimaginationlibrary.org/

Winter is a Great Time to P.L.A.Y.

12/1/2021

 
Written by: Amy Kerrigan, Community Education Specialist
In the winter there is snow. And when there is snow, we play! Who doesn't love building a snowman, having a snowball fight, or making snow angels? If you ask Jess Baird, playing in the snow is a "great multisensory experience" and a recommended activity for child development. And as a certified consultant for The P.L.A.Y. Project, she knows what she is talking about.
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The P.L.A.Y. Project may sound like a guide for having fun, but it is so much more. It is a unique program designed for families who have children, ages 0-6 yrs, on the autism spectrum. A consultant works one-on-one with parents and empowers them with knowledge on using engaging activities in their everyday routines with their child(ren), who might have various sensory and developmental challenges. The Champaign County Board of DD (CCBDD) is very lucky to have Jess Baird as our in-house certified P.L.A.Y. Project consultant.

To participate in The P.L.A.Y. Project, a child must first be evaluated by CCBDD to determine eligibility for Early Intervention services. Anyone can make a referral for the initial evaluation. After evaluation, the CCBDD staff decides if the family is a good candidate for P.L.A.Y. Project.

​To start, simply contact the CCBDD Early Intervention Director, Jennifer Bradford at [email protected] to ask about referrals. Or you can start the referral process yourself by going to www.ohioearlyintervention.org.
photo of Jennifer Bradford, Early Intervention Director
photo of Jess Baird, Certified P.L.A.Y. Project Consultant
​In the meantime, Jess offers ideas to support families with a child on the autism spectrum and to help all families start the holidays and new year with engaging activities.
1.  Connect with local Champaign County mom, Rhiannon Rose, through her blog www.autismandgo.com. This blog is an honest depiction of life with a child on the autism spectrum. Not only does Rhiannon share her experiences, but she also shares tips and tricks she has learned through the years. Finding support in your community and others who can relate to your situation can help alleviate stress.
photo of Rhiannon Rose and her family. This photo is from the Autism and Go website.
Photo from the Autism and Go website.
2.​ Visit some of Jess Baird's favorite websites like www.asensorylife.com and  www.inspiredtreehouse.com. These sites offer a wealth of resources for helping children with high sensory needs. There are checklists, tips and tricks, research information, and fun therapeutic activities.
3.  Enjoy the winter! Participate in all the new senses and activities that can only happen in winter weather. Jess says, "My favorite winter activity (and every other season too) is getting outside to play." Bundle up in all the winter gear. Build with the snow. Make wet or snowy footprints. Breathe in the cold air. Jess also suggests, "If getting outside isn't possible, making indoor obstacle courses, forts, or crashing into pillow piles are all fun ways to get some energy out too."
Photo of Rhiannon Rose's children building a snowman outside
Photo Credit: Rhiannon Rose (www.autismandgo.com)

Understanding Early Intervention and P.L.A.Y. Project

10/1/2021

 
Written by: Amy Kerrigan, Community Education Specialist
Early Intervention and P.L.A.Y. Project are two free services offered at Champaign Co Board of DD. But what are they and how do they help?

Early Intervention (EI) is for children ages birth to 3 years. The EI program provides certified therapists to work with children who are suspected of having a developmental impairment. Therapists also work with parents to help them understand and work with their child's issues.

P.L.A.Y. Project is for children ages birth to 6 years and is essentially an EI program specialized for children suspected of having autism. Here are some important things to remember about EI and P.L.A.Y. Project: 
  • Your child does not need a diagnosis to be evaluated for the programs.
  • Your child does not need a doctor's referral for these programs. Anyone can call us to refer a child for evaluation.
  • Approximately 1 in 3 children who receive EI services before the age of 3 do not require special education services later in life.²

If you want to learn more about EI and P.L.A.Y. Project, contact Jennifer Bradford (Early Intervention Director) at 937-653- 5217.

² Statistic found at www.wecarechildren.org

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