Every year, more than one million young children with unidentified disabilities enter school with learning and health issues that put them far behind their peers and have a lasting, negative effect on their ability to meet their full potential.
That’s why it’s important for children at risk of developmental delays, autism or other disabilities to get the treatment and therapy they need before the age of five.
As a leading provider of early intervention services, Easterseals therapists and families know what’s possible when kids get the support they need – and also what happens when they don’t.
But as a nation, we don’t invest nearly enough in early detection and treatment for young children, even though it’s incredibly effective and more than pays for itself.
Today, it's harder than ever for families to access care, because essential programs to treat young children with disabilities are chronically underfunded and in danger of being scaled back even further in 2016.
Easterseals’ Make the First Five Count® is designed to give children at risk of developmental delays, disabilities or autism the right support they need to be school-ready and build a foundation for a lifetime of learning.
We’re also calling on our elected officials to protect – and grow – all funding for the Part C early intervention program of the the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). There is no better investment than in the future of our children.
If you believe all kids deserve to start school, ready and able to learn alongside their peers, join us at MaketheFirstFiveCount.org and speak out today.
And, if you’re a parent, make sure your child reaches his or her developmental milestones. It’s easy to find out, simply go to MaketheFirstFiveCount.org to take Easterseals' new, free online screening tool.
We are very excited to announce that our friends at Comcast NBCUniversal aired our Make The First Five Count PSA from Monday, February 29th, through Sunday, April 24th, 2016. Watch it here and make sure to tune in to NBCUniversal to see it on air!
Local Impact of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®
Easterseals Washington Mobile Technology Lab Program
2015 January Parents® Magazine Ad
Ages & Stages Questionnaires® flyer
Communication Delays & Fact Sheet
Warning Signs to Watch
Stories of Hope
Early Intervention Stories
Make the First Five Count 2013 White Paper
*Download this Make the First Five Count Infograph in .pdf format here.