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Early Intervention


“All children should have the chance to reach their potential.
Baby Watch can help families make that happen.”
— Jackie Leavitt

The state of Utah provides Baby Watch, a program of early identification and developmental services for families of infants and toddlers in all of Utah, ages birth to three. Here is a detailed list of locations.

The evaluation is free of charge. Contact your local early intervention program. A representative will meet with you to determine whether your child is eligible. If your child is between the ages of 3 and 21, services are available through your local school district.

Frequently Asked Questions about Utah’s Baby Watch Early Intervention services.

School Services

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) is our nation’s special education law.  IDEA was originally enacted by Congress in 1975 to make sure that children with disabilities had the opportunity to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE), just like other children.  The law has been revised many times over the years.  Themost recent amendments were passed by Congress in December 2004, with final regulations published in August 2006.  So, in some sense, the law is very new, even as it has a long, detailed and powerful history.

IDEA guides how states and school districts provide special education and related services to more than six million eligible children with disabilities.  Utah also has its own regulations known as the “Big Black Book of Rules”.  These Rules provide requirements to which local education agencies, state-operated programs (including local juvenile and adult correctional facilities and charter schools) and other public and private agencies providing publicly funded education and related services to students with disabilities must adhere.

For more information on IDEA and Utah’s Rules and Regulations, contact the Utah Parent Center by calling 801-272-1051 or 800-468-1160.

SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973

Section 504 is a federal law designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U. S. Department of Education.  Section 504 states: “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States…shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance…”.  Examples of programs that receive federal funding include: public and charter schools; public colleges and universities (including Utah Colleges of Applied Technology); federal and state government departments and agencies; and county and community programs including community recreation programs.

The Utah Parent Center has created a handout called “What is a Section 504 Plan and Does My Student Qualify for One?” This handout was created to help parents understand these plans and how they can help.  If you have questions regarding Section 504 Plans, please call the Utah Parent Center at 801-272-1051 or 800-468-1160.

The Utah State Office of Education (USOE) also has an Education Equity monitoring office.  This office has a variety of programs and resources available to assist parents, professionals and educators.  Edie Park is the Educational Specialist and is available if you call 801-538-7647 or send an email to edie.park@schools.utah.gov.  The USOE has also created a Parent Guide to Section 504.


INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS (IEPs)

Each public school child who receives special education and related services must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Each IEP must be designed for one student and must be a truly individualized document. The IEP creates an opportunity for teachers, parents, school administrators, related services personnel, and students (when appropriate) to work together to improve educational results for children with disabilities. The IEP is the cornerstone of a quality education for each child with a disability.

The Utah Parent Center has created a parent handbook and workshop, Parents as Partners in the IEP Process, that provides a brief overview of some of the laws and suggestions about what you can do to prepare for your important role as an equal member of the team that designs the individualized education program to meet your child’s needs.  A series of 4 video training modules are available online.  The 4 topics that are covered include: Evaluation and Eligibility, IEP Development, Parents’ Rights and Negotiation Skills.  For more assistance with and information about IEPs, contact the Utah Parent Center by calling 801-272-1051 or 800-468-1160 or by visiting www.utahparentcenter.org.

CARSON SMITH SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOLARSHIP

Finding an educational environment that is a good fit for a special needs child is no easy task.  Their needs are very specific and unique.  Public schools try their best, and for many children that option is a good fit.  However, for many others, it is not.  In Utah, parents of children with special needs have a choice.  They can choose a public school or they can choose a private school with the help of the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship.  This Scholarship is a state-funded program that provides private school scholarships to k-12 students with disabilities.

UTAH OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION – SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The Utah State Office of Special Education – Services for At-Risk Students (Special Education Department) has many great resources to help you!  They have online resources and manuals as well as contact information for individuals who can help you learn more about the services that are available for your family member with an autism spectrum disorder.

PROFESSIONAL TEACHER MENTORS

Michele Thompson
Autism Team Leader
Nebo School District
Responsibilities: Weekly training for Autism Technicians (para-educators) in their district, Scheduling service time and content for those students with Autism, Supervising Autism technicians, Monthly Parent meetings, Processing referrals, Testing for Autism and related Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Reporting on testing, Attending and participating in IEP meetings Monitoring student progress, Coordinating with Administrators and other personnel

Launa Macomber
District Program Specialist
Nebo School District
801-319-0574
launa.macomber[at]nebo.edu
Responsibilities:  Supervise Autism Team, Inclusion Specialist, Giant Steps Liason, Autism Units Liason, Special Education Liason for specific schools in Nebo School District.

Bre Bell
Autism Specialist & Small Group Autism Kindergarten Teacher
Alpine School District
801-785-8795 x115
brebell[at]hotmail.com
Responsibilities: academics/behaviors/toilet training/IEP Paperwork

Mary Cheney
Functional Skills Classroom Teacher
Boulton Elementary
801-402-1310

Amy Peters M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Autism Program Specialist
Weber School District
apeters[at]weber.k12.ut.us
Responsibilities: I currently facilitate a preschool for students with autism using Applied Behavior Analysis principals. I also consult with school age students with autism and the educators that serve them in regular and special education settings. Additionally, I train regular education teachers and special education teachers about autism spectrum disorder.

 
Additional Links
About the Autism Council of Utah

The Autism Council of Utah is an independent council working to foster collaboration, communication, and learning among families and agencies. Our aim is to promote access to resources and responsible information for individuals of all ages who have, or are affected by autism, or related conditions.