My role as an EIS (Early Intervention Specialist)

Early Intervention Specialist

General Overview

• Description
• special education from birth to kindergarten
• work in preschool classroom or within home
• work for districts, regional programs, medical providers, private education companies
• Clients: physical/cognitive/behavioral/communication delays, IEP is developmental-not academic, done via games and exercises

• day in the life
• travel to homes
• use variety of strategies and assistive technology
• involve parents
• principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
• meet with staff/parents to review goals and draft IEPs
• write reports and meet with other specialists

• licensing
• complete undergrade degree (and usually masters)
• accredited prep program-includes student teaching

• areas of specialization
• Speech and Language
• physical therapy
• autism spectrum disorders

• career path
• El Ed, preschool, BS child development, El Ed or liberal studies
• administrators

• national organizations
• National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education
• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• The Council for Exceptional Children (Early Learning)

Additional Information

• salary
• about $52,000-$55,000 when established
• about $25,000-$38,00 beginnig 
• responsibilities
• liaison between familes and service providers (therapists, social services, medical personell, education system)
• direct services to child (in classroom, home, care-based programs)
• team member in developmental experience
• taking notes on progress, address parental concerns, assessments, treatment, testing, creating learning plans, activities, information
• skills
• organized, collaboration, high energy level, multi-task, know medical terms and conditions, physical stress, jump through hoops
• degree/education
• bachelors with endorsement in EI or ECSE (covers developmental milestones, assesments)
• certification (via teaching experience, testing, gpa)
• perfessional development
• master's degree
• rewards and challenges
• atypical enviornments
• difficult clients/family situations
• child achievement
• getting started
• education
• experience (working in care settings with disabilites, childhood centers-easter seal clinic, service hours, networking)
• future outlook
• real good (higher standards of qualifications, current legislation-more opportunities, varied organizations