International Union of Angelic Anarchists Local 2. 
When Maggie first started in the Early Intervention Program, we had no idea what an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) was. We were mostly focused on Maggie's developmental assessments and her recent diagnosis of Prader-Willi. (Maggie's intake evaluation was before we learned she had Angelman Syndrome.)
Our Service Coordinator and the therapists involved in the evaluation were very helpful in drafting our first IFSP. We didn't know what to expect or what kind of servies to ask for. The IFSP is the official plan for early intervention therapy. If it was not in the IFSP, we did not have access to those services. We also quickly learned to use the IFSP to advocate and ensure that Maggie got the level of services whe was entitled to according to the IFSP.
These are some of the key elements to a good IFSP:
By the time Maggie was up for her six month review, we knew a bit more what to expect, but mostly we were excited to celebrate her accomplishments over the last six months. We found that holding the review meeting at our house and getting all of the therapists together was good for us and Maggie's team of therapists. We talked about her progress, but also about the areas that we wanted to help improve.
Maggie's Six Month Evaluation & Current IFSP |
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| Click on evaluation title to see actual report (pdf). | Skill goals over the next six months. |
OT Evaluation Maggie made good progress in a range of areas including the use of cause and effect toys and social skills. Still she is generally delayed with most fine motor skills. |
Interact more with parents - respond to name - mimic facial expressions - initiate social contact by making sounds, reaching, touching - show and share objsects with parents Use arms and hands more - pick up small objects with more refined grasp - imitate hand motions - prop herself when she loses balance |
Speech Language Evaluation It is unlikely that Maggie will ever speak, but that doesn't mean she won't communicate with us. Speech therapy has worked on a lot more than verbalizations with Maggie |
- attend to pictures |
PT Evaluation Maggie started progressing at an explosive rate in her gross motor skills at around 18 months. Our biggest concern is improving her protective extensions, (eg. putting hands out to break fall.) |
- tall kneeling |
Special Instruction Report Maggie is not the same little girl she was just six months ago. Since autism spectrum disorder is a common element of the Angelman Syndrome, we rejoice in Maggie's growing social interactions. |
- develop more constructive play skills - communicate needs through vocal, gesture and augmented means - participate in interactive games back and forth - follow instructions - imitate sounds and actions |
Maggie's Current IFSP Maggie made tremendous progress with the help of the early intervention program. Not surprisingly, she still qualifies for the same comprehensive set of therapies. |
• Move safely in her world |
Maggie's Initial Evaluations and First IFSP |
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| Core Evaluation (large pdf file) | September 21, 2004 - A lengthy and detailed account of Maggie at 13 months. The evaluation measured Maggie's development in a several areas including: social-emotional, cognitive, communication, physical (gross and fine motor, vision and hearing), and self-help. |
| Occupational Therapy Evaluation | October 20, 2004 - Each area of services under EIP requires an eligibility evaluation. Maggie's fine motor skills varied, but most were about 50% delayed at the time of this evaluation. |
| Speech Language Evaluation | October 25, 2004 - At the time of this evaluation, we had come to accept that Maggie did not have Prader-Willi but AS, and therefore the development of speech is unlikely. Still, there is much more to communicaiton than speech and Maggie's speech therapy has covered a wide range of communication and oral-motor issues. |
