Child Find
What is Child Find?
Child Find is a statewide effort by the Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services to locate, identify, and evaluate children with disabilities from birth to age 21. School systems have an affirmative obligation to locate, identify, and evaluate children who have or may have a disability. School systems use the referral process to fulfill this obligation.
How does Child Find Work?
Early Intervention and Special Education Services work closely with community service agencies, parents and local school systems to locate children with disabilities. A toll-free number is provided for parents or other persons interested in information about referring a child aged birth to 21.
Why is Child Find Important?
Child Find helps the child, the family and the provider to plan appropriate services and link families to services for students meeting eligibility requirements in the following areas:
- Hearing Impairment
- Deaf-Blindness
- Intellectual Disability
- Multiple Disabilities
- Orthopedic Impairment
- Emotional Disability
- Speech and Language Impairment
- Visual Impairment
- Specific Learning Disabilities
- Autism
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Developmental Delay
For more information about Child Find or if you would like to speak with someone regarding a suspected disability, contact Mary Stump, Director for Special Education for Madison County Schools 256.852.7073.
Services for children aged from birth to age 3 are identified through the Early Intervention Program. For information about these services, contact Wendy Pittard at 256.650.1727 or Jackie Criswell at 256.650.1723. You can also contact the toll-free number 1.800.543.3098.