Help for children with developmental delays is often not readily available, especially for families with lower incomes, but Chester County Intermediate Unit’s Early Intervention program has proven to be a lifesaver for this in Chester County.

The program provides services and support specifically designed to help children with developmental delays from birth to 3 years old, and the CCIU offers Early Intervention for children ages 3 to 5.  

One of the best examples of the program’s success is four-year-old Gabriel Cruz, a student in the CCIU’s preschool special education classroom at Octorara Elementary School.

Gabriel has been a student in one of the CCIU’s autistic support classrooms for fourteen months. He receives speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, both in a group setting and one-on-one during his full-day of classes.

Young Gabriel, who has autism, is a delight to teach, according to his teacher, Lynn Brose.

“His smile brightens the room and our hearts,” she commented.

His mother, Wanda Cruz, is overjoyed with her son’s progress. She said that her anxiety about Gabriel’s diagnosis with Autism Spectrum Disorder quickly faded when she learned of the benefits and results achieved through Early Intervention services.

“The staff is very devoted to him. They keep me informed of his goals, his development and the interventions in the classroom for behavior issues. I feel comfortable calling the classroom, and they’re open with me. They show me new skills to carry on in the home setting,” she said. “At this point, I don’t know what I’d do without this program.”  

For more information about the program families can call 1-800-692-1100, ext. 5948 or 610-344-5948, ext. 5949 for Early Intervention for children up to 3 years old, or 484-237-5150 for children from 3 to 5 years old.

Check out previous VISTA Today coverage of CCIU here.