Early childhood educators are instrumental in the referral process for early intervention services

Federal law mandates for a range of services to be provided to infants and toddlers with disabilities, through what is referred to as "Early Intervention." Public Law 105-17 pe1mits services for the youngest members of our society. This pilot project is designed to provide Early Childhood Educators (ECE) with reputable resources in a booklet format to assist in recognizing when it is appropriate to refer children who are in need of Early Intervention (EI). Even though there are many resources readily available, this pilot project is intended to provide ECEs, parents, and other invested parties convenient and user-friendly checklists on common developmental delays and the related specialists who would best work with the child's needs. The purpose of this project is threefold. First, this paper examines the importance of Early Intervention. Secondly, it offers a resource guide that ECEs can easily access to use as a tool to review information and identify children at risk. Finally, it assists ECEs in referring a child to the appropriate specialist if necessary. The results from the data collected further support there is a need for a systematic approach in making referrals. Furthermore, the data reflects that a resource guide would be beneficial for those in the ECE field