Your frequent questions

Who all qualifies for early intervention as a social service?

Any family of a child aged 0-7 years whose development is at risk due to a disability is eligible for early intervention services. This service is regulated by Act No 448/2008 Coll. on Social Services. Eligibility for the service is confirmed by the general physician for children and adolescents.

If I have the support of early intervention service advisors, does that mean I no longer need outpatient specialists such as a physiotherapist, speech therapist, or special educator?

Early intervention service advisors do not replace other professionals working in the health or education departments. However, they complement their services by helping families better understand how they can get the most out of them for their child and their family. They help parents to transfer information from outpatient clinic professionals into their everyday lives.

What does it mean to accompany a family with a key advisor?

It means supporting the family in its decisions. A key advisor helps parents to be competent in caring for their child.

How will the meetings be run?

Meetings with the family take place mostly in the family's home environment, usually once a month. Depending on the current needs of the family, the key counsellor may invite an expert from the field of physiotherapy, special education and psychology, who are part of the Early Intervention Service team, to the meeting. In exceptional cases, such a meeting may also take place on an outpatient basis at the centre.

Is the early intervention service free?

Pursuant to Act No. 448/2008 Coll. on Social Services, the service is free of charge, but the family contributes to the overhead costs associated with the provision of the early intervention service according to the current price list.

Will a physiotherapist come to my house to practice with my child?

The physiotherapist visits the family's home environment mainly for prosthetics (modification) of the home environment and to show parents how to support the child's motor development in an effective and meaningful way within the family's normal daily activities. His visits do not replace outpatient physiotherapy care.

Will my child catch up with his peers?

Each child, in his or her uniqueness, progresses as his or her individual capabilities and abilities allow. For these reasons, there is no clear-cut answer to this question. Our desire is to help you, the parent, have all the information and skills necessary to support your child's development to the best of your ability.