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Contact Your State Program — Today
If your child is under 3 years old, you need to contact your state's Part C Early Intervention (EI) program immediately. Under IDEA Part C, states must identify, evaluate, and serve infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Once you make a referral, the state has 45 calendar days to complete an evaluation and develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Services are provided in your child's "natural environment" — your home, daycare, or community settings. If your child is 3 or older, the school district becomes responsible. Write a letter to the Director of Special Education in your local school district requesting a comprehensive evaluation. Use the phrase "I am requesting an initial evaluation under IDEA Part B for my child" — this is the legal trigger. The district then has 60 calendar days (in most states) to complete the evaluation. Send the letter by certified mail or email with a read receipt so you have proof of the date. Do not wait for a doctor, teacher, or anyone else to make this referral. Any parent can self-refer. The clock starts the day the district or EI program receives your written request. Every day you delay is a day your child is not receiving services they are entitled to.
IDEA timelines are strict: 45 days for EI (Part C) and 60 days for school evaluations (Part B). Every day you wait is a day subtracted from your child's access to services.