Specialty Services
The Office of Specialty Services is focused on ensuring that children with particular conditions are identified at a young age and then have access to appropriate intervention. Children who have a hearing loss, vision loss, deafblindness, children who have complex medical needs or multiple disabilities, or an Autism Spectrum Disorder are all part of this group. Although these children may not seem to share many traits, they are grouped together because they may need attention from professionals with specialized training to address the particular needs of each of these diagnoses. The office oversees policy development, standards and monitoring of specialty service providers, and provides technical assistance, training and consultation to program staff, families, community collaborators and other state agencies around specialty service issues.
Updates
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Eligibility criteria for specialty services for children with autism spectrum disorders (PDF) | Word
Frequently Asked Questions — Change in Eligibility for Specialty Services for Children with ASD (PDF) | RTF
Is Your Child Developing in Ways That Puzzle You? (PDF) | Word
Deaf and Hearing Loss
Getting Started: Information for Parents of Infants and Toddlers who are Deaf or Have a Hearing Loss (PDF) | Word
Spanish/Espanol Getting Started: Information for Parents of Infants and Toddlers who are Deaf or Have a Hearing Loss (PDF) | RTF
Partnering for the Success of Children with Hearing Loss Task Force Report (PDF) | Word
For more information, visit the Newborn Hearing Screening Program website.
Vision Loss
Collaboration, Specialty Providers, and Early Intervention
This information is provided by the Early Intervention Program within the Department of Public Health.