Through the ECDS program, we provide therapeutic and educational early intervention. This program is for children, ages 0-3 who are at risk for developmental delays or who may be diagnosed with a developmental disability. In partnership with California Early Start services, this program provides age-appropriate educational services and therapeutic interventions using evidence-based practices. Credentialed teachers provide services on a 1:1 basis in natural environments.

SAS is dedicated to bringing quality in-home early intervention services to children and families in the following areas:

• Cognitive and Physical Development
• Speech and Language Development
• Social and Emotional Development
• Adaptive (self-help) Development 
• Behavior Management

We believe that parents/caregivers possess an unparalleled knowledge of a child’s unique attributes and needs, and are therefore in the best position to provide input to service identification. As the foundation of this program, we emphasize a multi-disciplinary collaborative partnership that is relationship-based and culturally responsive. Services are family-centered, and employ appropriate curriculum and intervention strategies individually tailored for each child whom we serve. SAS is committed to partnering with children/families to promote optimal development. 

An SAS Story…

Little Ike was born very premature at 27 weeks old and weighing 2 ½ lbs. As might be expected, he had a multitude of complications such as a heart murmur, brain bleeds, bowel obstruction, and vision issues, and had several surgeries to place shunts in his brain within this first month of life. His stayed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 3 months before he was able to return home.

Once home, Ike continued to have low muscle tone, limited stamina, and severe head lag, and was on oxygen around the clock. Ike’s parents had him assessed for Early Intervention services in his home, and SAS infant educator J.C. began working with Ike and his family to provide information and strategies designed specifically for the development of premature infants.

Ike’s parents became full partners with Ike’s early interventionist and participated fully from day one of services. In return, Ike’s family came to learn his preemie “signals” and other ways they could support his development. Soon, Ike began to recognize his parents’ faces, reach his arms out to them, and increase his eye contact. He also began to use a lot of vocal inflection to communicate with them.

With an increase in early intervention hours, Ike soon increased his core strength, held his head up on his own, began getting on his hands/knees, and began crawling and progressing with his other gross motor skills and cognitive skills. The early interventionist soon noticed that Ike’s mom became more relaxed with her baby as she gained developmental knowledge and skills. With the addition of physical therapy and some orthotics, Ike’s stamina improved and he was eventually able to walk independently.

When Ike left his SAS Early Intervention program he was a 3-year-old boy who talked in 2-3 word sentences, walked well, became more tolerant of fine motor activity, had a great sense of humor, engaged in pretend play (helping mom around the house), and was in effect quite enjoyably socially oriented – just like any other 3-year-old child!