Up until their third birthday, children are eligible for the early intervention system if they are experiencing significant developmental delays in one or more of the following domains:

• cognitive
• physical, including vision and hearing
• communication
• social or emotional
• adaptive, including limitations in self-help and leisure skills
  

Children may also qualify for the early intervention system if they have a diagnosed physical or mental disorder that puts them at high risk for developmental delay. Each child’s services in the early intervention system are outlined in a formal document known as the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), developed jointly between the early intervention team members and the child’s parents.