When your child is diagnosed with a disability, or if there are concerns about a possible disability, you may be referred to an 'Early Intervention Team'. The referral can be made by your G.P. or Public Health Nurse, through a maternity or paediatric unit in the hospital, or you can contact your local Early Intervention Team directly.

When your child is referred to an agency for early intervention services, a group of people will work with you and your child. In some areas this team is called 'Early Services' and in some areas it is called the 'Early Intervention Team'. The aim of the Early Intervention Team is to provide support for your child and your family, to maximise your child's potential and development.

Each Early Intervention Team is made up of a variety of different professionals together with the family, and not all professionals will be present on each team. Some of the professionals that work on Early Intervention Teams include:

• Psychologists
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Occupational Therapists (OT's)
• Paediatricians
• Social Workers
• Educationalists

You can find out what each of these, and many other professionals do by clicking on our page about the professionals you may meet.

While the specialists and therapists are considered experts in their fields, they are not the most important element of early intervention. The most important element is you the parents. You know your own child best. You are the most essential members of your child’s Early Intervention Team.