Comparison of Early Intervention in the United States and Ireland

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Comparison of Early Intervention in the United
States and Ireland

• M. Alyssa Barnes
• University of Georgia

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Ireland
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United States Georgia
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Birth to Three EI in Georgia

• Babies Cant Wait
• Falls under the Department of Human Resources
• Funded through IDEA and Georgia
• Serves children birth to three
• IFSP for all children
• Focus on teaching parents how to provide
  intervention when the service provider is away
• Services provided in natural environments

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Three to Five EI in Georgia

• Served under Department of Education
• Funded through IDEA and Georgia
• Typically served in local and state preschools
• IEPs for all children
• Skills taught through play

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Birth to Three EI in Ireland

• Served under Department of Health and Children
• Services provided through private organizations
  (divided by disability area) by intellectual
  disability nurses
• Funded through federal contracts, grants, and
  private funds
• Focus on children, although consult with parents
  regarding needs
• Amount of time served dependent on severity of
  childs disability and family needs

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Three to Five EI in Ireland

• Served under Department of Health and Children
• Services provided at public (local or national)
  or private daycare (divided by disability area)
• Funded through federal contracts, grants, and
  private funds
• Visiting teachers provide consultation in public
  daycares
• Moving away from intellectual disability nurses
  and toward early childhood teachers

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Education Policy in Ireland

• Education Act of 1998
• White Paper 2000
• Called early childhood education The Cinderella
  of Irish Education
• Encouraged the enhancement of services for
  children birth to five
• Education for Persons with Special Education
  Needs
• -Requires teachers create IEPs
• Disability Act of 2005
• Provides parents the right to have their infant
  or toddler assessed

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Observable Differences

• Segregated system
• Special services end at a childs sixth birthday
  (no therapies provided in national schools)
• Less regulation and mandates
• Intellectual disability nurses provide services
  birth to five (fading three to five)
• SPED certification only accessible in Masters
  programs

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Observable Similarities

• Shortage of individuals prepared to work with
  disabilities
• Shortage of necessary funding
• Portions of policy (e.g. IEP, IFSP)
• Desire to help ALL children