SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Higher Horizons gives priority to children with disabilities. At least 10% of our enrollment is comprised of children with special needs. The agency has a unique collaboration with Fairfax County Child Find and Early Intervention- Infant and Toddler Connection (ITC) to provide inclusive services to children with disabilities in their Head Start and Early Head Start classroom.

As part of the collaboration, Fairfax County Public Schools Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) Program provides a full time Special Education Resource Teacher and an Instructional Assistant on site at Higher Horizons in cooperation with the Disabilities Coordinator and the Education Management Team to provide and facilitate the following:

Infant and Toddler Connection (ITC) provides inclusive services on site for children 0-3 years with an Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP). The ITC staff and Higher Horizons coordinate the referral of infants and toddlers with suspected developmental concerns. In the Early Head Start Home Base Program staff may plan home visits for families with an IFSP in conjunction with ITC personnel to provide a coordinated approach to services for families.

If you have a concern about your enrolled child’s development, please contact the Disabilities Coordinator at 703-820-2457 extension 151. If your child is not enrolled at Higher Horizons, contact Fairfax County ECSE at http://www.fcps.edu/ss/preschool for children ages 2 (by September 30) to 5 years. Or Infant and Toddler Connection at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/csb/itc/ for children Birth to 3 years.