PROJECT CHILD FIND

Since legislation was enacted in 1983, New Jersey has provided for services to young children with disabilities and their families. Chapter 415, laws of 1981 authorized the provision of services for children with disabilities, birth to five years of age.

The law designated responsibility to the New Jersey State Department of Education, in conjunction with the New Jersey Departments of Health and Human Services, to develop and implement early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities, birth through two years of age. It required local boards of education to identify and provide special education programs and services to eligible children with disabilities ages three through twenty-one; and to provide information regarding available early intervention services to parents of children with disabilities below age three.

Project CHILD FIND was established by the New Jersey Department of Education as a free public awareness and referral service to assist parents and professional by identifying free, available early intervention, preschool disabilities and special education programs throughout New Jersey. Information concerning programs and services for children with disabilities birth through twenty-one years of age may be obtained by calling toll free, 1-800-322-8174, Monday through Friday. This number is in service 24 hours a day. All calls received are confidential.

Some children are born with or may develop physical and/or mental conditions, which delay their normal growth and development. Many of these problems can be helped of completely corrected if parents recognize the problem early and seek help.

Use the following checklist as a guide to help your know if your child could benefit from special help.

SEEING Your child:            

___ is often unable to locate and pick up small objects which have been dropped.

___ frequently rubs eyes or complains that eyes hurt.

___ has reddened, watering or encrusted eyelids. 

___ holds head in a strained or awkward position (tilts head to either side - thrusts head forward or backward) when trying to look at a particular object.

___ sometimes or always crosses one or both eyes.

TALKING        Your child:

___ cannot say Amama@ and Adada@ by age 1.

___ cannot say the names of a few toys by age 2.

___ cannot repeat common rhymes or tv jingles by age 3.

___ is not talking short sentences by age 4.

___ is not understood by people outside the family by age 5.

MOVING          Your child:

___ is unable to sit up without support by age 1.

___ cannot walk without help by age 2.

___ does not walk up and down steps by age 3.

___ is unable to balance on one foot for a short time by age 4.

___ cannot throw a ball overhand and catch a large ball bounced to him/her by age 5.

PLAYING        Your child:

___ does not play games such as peek-a-boo, patty cake, waving bye-bye by age one.

___ does not imitate parents doing routine household chores by age 2 to 3.

___ does not enjoy playing alone with toys, pots and pans, sand, etc. by age 3.

___ does not share and take turns by age 5.

HEARING       Your child:

___ does not turn to face the source of strange sounds or voices by 6 months of age.

___ has frequent ear aches or running ears.

___ talks in a very loud or very soft voice.

___ does not respond when you call from another room.

___ turns the same ear toward a sound he/she wishes to hear.

THINKING      Your child:

___ does not react to his/her own name when called by age 1.

___ is unable to identify hair, eyes, ears, nose and mouth by age 2.

___ does not understand simple stories told or read by age 3. 

___ does not give reasonable answers to such questions as AWhat do you do when you=re sleepy?@ or What do you do when you=re hungry?@ by age 4.

___ does not seem to understand the meanings of the words Atoday,@Atomorrow,@

and Ayesterday@ by age five.

WHO CAN HELP?

If you have a child 3 to 5 years of age, who you suspect may have a disabling condition, you woe it to yourself and your child to: 

$                    Contact your local school district. Franklin Township=s number is 856-629-9500 ext. 3.

$                    Schedule a free screening provided by the special services/special education department.

$                    Obtain services for your child, if eligible.

If you have an infant or toddle who you suspect may have a delay in growth or overall development, please don=t wait.

$                    Contact Project CHILD FIND 1-800-322-8174.

$                    Schedule a free appointment.

$                    Obtain free Early Intervention Program services, as necessary.

Niños de Edad
Preescolar y Escolap

 Si le preocupa que su hijo de edad preescolar o escolar se está desarrollando o aprendiendo en forma diferente, puede llamar a uno de los supervisores de estudios infantiles del distritio escolar. (856-629-9500 ext. 3)

 ¿Como Funciona Este Servico?

 Si desea solicitar una evalación para educación especial y servicos relacionados, envíe a su distrito una solicitud de evaluación por escrito.  Incluya el nombre de su hijo, edad, dirección e incapacidac conocida o sospechada.

 Después de recibir su solicitud por escrito, el grupo de estucios infantiles dispondrá de veintiún días para reunirse con los padres.  En esta reunión, usted y el grupo decidirán si es necesaria una evaluación, y si lo es, lo que esta inclurá.

 Considerando que sea apropiado, los niños de edad preescolar y escolar con incapacidades recibirán su educación con otros niñon no incapacitados.