Access to Early Intervention Services in New York State

• Published in: Journal of disability policy studies 1990-07, Vol.1 (2), p.65-84
• Main Authors: Bird, William A., Castellani, Paul J., Nemeth, Chris
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child welfare; Children; Coordination; Counties; Early intervention; Factor analysis; Intervention; Pediatricians; Policy making; Referrals; Services; Tests
• ISSN: 1044-2073; 1538-4802
• DOI: 10.1177/104420739000100204

The results of a study of the availability of and access to early intervention services in twelve counties in upstate New York are presented here. Factor analyses of the availability of these services identified three groups: entry, direction, and specialized therapeutic services. While early intervention services were found to be broadly available, specialized services were substantially less available than those that were largely concerned with screening, advocating, funding, transporting, and similar activities instrumental to linking the child and family to direct therapeutic interventions. Analyses of the sources of referral and waiting times for a sample of children showed that pediatricians were the largest source of referrals to services, and referrals from this group had the shortest waiting times. Specific direction and coordination services that had been established in the locales had the lowest percentage of referrals and the longest waiting times. The implications of the study for public policymaking are shown to be important in two respects. The first concerns the relative efforts to provide early intervention services which focus more on instrumental activities than therapeutic interventions. The second is whether mechanisms designed to enhance the linkage of children to services actually achieve the desired results. The results of this study raise questions in both regards.