7B- Alexa Kamovitch- Response to Bethany Quetot

Discussion Questions:

1. What is early intervention?

According to your research, early intervention is the procedures and programs that facilitate the skills and development in infants and young children who have disabilities, who are at risk for developing disabilities, and students who are gifted. 

2. What are the three critical factors of early intervention?

The three critical factors of early intervention include level of intensity, parental involvement, and age of intervention. 

As mentioned within your paper, according to the IDEA there is no specific level of intensity for early intervention practices. The first critical factor, level of intensity, can be inconsistent among students due to income, culture, and access to health care services. From my own experiences, families who are financially stable are more likely to get their child outside additional related services. However, for families who cannot afford the extra expenditures, these services are unfortunately very expensive and mostly not covered by health care; therefore, these students who need the extra services are not receiving them. 

In my eyes parental involvement is one of the top key components in student success. Your research made an interesting and correct point- teachers should be providing parents with encouragement but also respect their choices and priorities. Too often we are too quick to judge parents about their involvement, but we fail to consider other factors that may be happening within their lives. When we see a parent not being involved in their child's education we automatically think the worst; however, we fail to consider the extenuating factors. 

"Research found that the earlier that a child receives intervention, the better the outcome." This statement from your paper confirmed my thoughts on the third critical factor of intervention. It is only fitting that the quicker a child is provided with the appropriate services the more beneficial the process will be for them. 

 

3. Why should we use early intervention?

In my opinion, I believe we should use early intervention to catch and work on students academic deficiencies as quickly as possible. With the use of early intervention, students have the opportunity to progress in their academics and improve their skills. In my personal experience, some students just need one-on-one intervention to gain necessary skills and with the use of RTI their areas of need can be met. As mentioned in the paper, early intervention provides student with the assistance they need before they fall too far behind. 

4. What are some challenges school districts place when they implement RTI?

Some challenges school districts face include teachers having inadequate training in assisting these children, teachers lack of time to devote to planning and working with the student, and a school districts lack of support. 

5. What are the stages of early intervention?

The stages of early intervention include referral of a student with a suspected deficiency, evaluation to determine eligibility, review of components regarding eligibility for services,  and placement/ implementation of appropriate services. 

"First of all, when a student is to be part of the preferral intervention, many teachers see this student as part of special education, instead of a general education student." I could not agree more with this statement. I also feel that the moment that students are separated from the general education classroom to receive RTI or pre-referral intervention services they are viewed differently. RTI is a great program that gives students ,who may not have a disability, and may just need one-on-one intervention,  the help that they need. 

Bethany, thank you for the information regarding early intervention services.