Why Early Intervention Matters for Children and Families
The first five years of life represent the most rapid period of brain development, forming the foundation for lifelong learning and behavior (Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, 2016). When development doesn’t follow an expected path, families are often left wondering whether to wait or seek help. Early Intervention exists so they don’t have to navigate that uncertainty alone.
Early support is not about labelling a child, it is about understanding how they learn and giving them tools for everyday success. Speech, occupational, physical therapy, and special education services help children build communication, independence, and gain assurance during the most adaptable stage of development.
Supporting the child also means supporting the family. Caregivers learn strategies they can use during daily routines like meals – play, and transitions, turning everyday moments into opportunities for progress instead of stress.
With early support, many children require fewer intensive services later. Families gain reassurance, knowledge, and a team that recognizes both strengths and challenges.
Early Intervention does not change who a child is. It provides access to communication, relationships, education, and participation in the world around them. Every child develops differently, but families should not have to wait without guidance.
Early support helps children be understood sooner and strengthens confidence and connection for years to come. Addressing these early developmental needs early reduces long-term costs and supports lifelong well-being. National data indicate that about 42% of children who receive Early Intervention services do not require special education later (U.S. Department of Education, 2022).
Advocacy in Action — Our Kids Can’t Wait
Early Intervention is built on timing. Skills like communication, social interaction, movement, and learning develop fastest in the earliest years of life. When support is delayed, the impact isn’t temporary – it can affect confidence, learning, and participation for years to come.
Across New York State, families are experiencing longer wait times for evaluations and services. Providers are stretched thin, and programs are struggling to recruit and retain qualified professionals. The result is that children who qualify for support are often waiting during the very window when intervention is most effective.
This is why advocacy matters.
We are proud to share that Lynn Shea, ECP Director, and Melissa Laun, Lockport School Building Leader, joined the Kids Can’t Wait Campaign and Help Me Grow WNY for Advocacy Day on February
10th in Albany, NY. They met directly with state legislators to speak on behalf of the children and families we serve every day.
Their message was simple but urgent: children cannot wait for systems to catch up.
They advocated for meaningful workforce solutions, including improved reimbursement rates that allow programs to recruit and retain therapists and educators, strategies to strengthen the provider pipeline, and the reduction of administrative barriers that delay the start of services. When providers leave the field or programs cannot fill positions, families are left waiting – sometimes for months – during a developmental period measured in weeks.
BHSC’s commitment to advocacy continues beyond a single day in Albany. Joseph Cozzo our President/CEO is involved in ongoing advocacy efforts with national, state, and local government officials. Our VP for Administration and Compliance, Joe Sonnenberg and Director of Clinics, Amy Bambrick serve on the NYSSLHA Government Affairs Committee, supporting statewide policy efforts related to Early Intervention and the speech and audiology professions. Mary Anne Whelan, Community Program Manager, leads the Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council (LEICC), working collaboratively within the community to improve access and availability of services for families.
Advocacy is not separate from care – it is part of care. Supporting children means ensuring the system designed to help them is strong enough to respond when families reach out.
Every delay represents a missed opportunity for connection, communication, and confidence. Early Intervention changes developmental paths, but only when it happens early enough.
Our kids can’t wait — and neither can we.
Families and community members who want to support these efforts and learn more about strengthening Early Intervention services can visit The Children’s Agenda and Liftoff WNY. Learn more about the importance of Early intervention and how you can join the effort: Early Intervention and Preschool Special Education – The Children’s Agenda and Home – Liftoff WNY
The science is clear – early support changes developmental paths. Ensuring access requires more than awareness. It requires advocacy.
In his recent message, BHSC President & CEO Joseph Cozzo outlines why investing in Early Intervention is both a moral responsibility and a sound economic decision for our state and nation.
Read Joe Cozzo’s full advocacy message and learn how you can act.
