Infant-Toddler Services for Families
Ottawa Wellsville Infant Toddler (OWIT) is a local “Tiny-K” program designed to enhance parent’s ability to care for their children 0 through 2 years of age that experience disabilities or developmental delays by providing special services to the child and family. OWIT services are provided at no cost to any family who has a child that is eligible. Services are provided in the child’s natural environments by highly qualified professionals. Eligibility for services is determined using parent report, clinical opinion, and evaluation/assessment measures. Areas of assessment include: physical abilities, hearing, sensory, health, vision, problem solving, communication, social/emotional, behavioral and self –help skills. If a child is eligible, an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) is developed and serves as the tool from which services are delivered. Family input is very important in the development of the IFSP. A major focus of all Kansas Infant-Toddler programs is that services are family-centered; that is they emphasize parent choice, a strengths-based perspective, and recognize the family as a unit.
Why are Infant-Toddler services important? Starting with a partnership between parents and professionals at this early stage helps the child, family and community as a whole. This partnership may assist with:
1. Enhancing capacities of families to meet the needs of their child
2. Assisting infants and toddlers to attain age-appropriate developmental levels.
3. Maximizing the significant development that occurs during a child’s first three years of life.
4. Reducing feelings of isolation, stress and frustration that families may experience.
5. Reduce long-term educational costs to society by minimizing the need for special education and related services at school age.
6. Help children grow up to become productive, independent individuals.
If you are a parent or grandparent who has concerns about your infant or toddler’s development, please contact OWIT at 785-229-8110 ext 1157 or find us on the web at tiny-k.org.
