When children have developmental delays, however, early childhood educators can help with a variety of needs, including speech problems, communication delays physical problems, hearing loss, vision loss, learning problems, mental disabilities. The Early Childhood Special Education Program at Grant Wood Area Education Agency offers services at no cost to families for children with special needs in Benton, Cedar, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, Linn and Washington counties. Services are available as soon as the need is identified, even immediately after birth. AEA Early Childhood Special Education Program as soon as possible. The staff at Grant Wood AEA are certified by the Iowa Department of Education in many fields.
Most staff have master's degrees and have worked at the agency for many years.
The Early Childhood Program also offers a lending library to families involved with the program. Once a child is identified with special needs, a meeting is scheduled to review what is known about the child's development, what services are needed, and how they will be provided. Parents give their perspectives and ideas and are encouraged to ask questions. A variety of opportunities for meeting the child's needs are explored. Home Intervention Staff whose skills match the child's needs make regularly scheduled visits to homes and work with parents and other caregivers at times that best fit family schedules.