The Pediatrician and Early Intervention for the Developmentally Disabled or Handicapped Child
Avrum L. Katcher MD1
Julian S. Haber MD2
1 Department of Pediatrics, Hunterdon Medical Center, Flomington, New Jersey, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine, New Brunswick, New Jersey
2 Adjunct Graduate Professor, Division Speech Communication Pathology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas
New federal legislation involving infants at risk for handicaps and their families, in the form of Public Law 99-457, will rely on interaction between pediatricians and other professionals to maximize health and social benefits. Involvement in early identification and remediation of infants at risk is a role well suited to the primary care pediatrician.
Early Intervention Programs offer remediation and enhancement of development for children at biologic or environmental risk. Pediatricians should be alert to screen, identify, and assess children who may be helped by Early Intervention Programs. The primary care pediatrician should work with children who have these problems, help coordinate care, and serve as an advocate for the child and family.
