Developmental delays are common. As many as 1 in 6 children has a delay. Children develop different skills at different times. If a child is not doing things that most children can do at a certain age, they may have a developmental delay. Developmental delays can occur in one or more of the following areas: 

• Thinking and learning (cognitive) 

• Talking and expressing self (expressive communication) 

• Understanding language (receptive communication) 

• Feeling, expressing, interacting with others (social and emotional) 

• Everyday living skills like eating, dressing, caring for self (adaptive)

 • Walking, moving, seeing and hearing (physical and motor development, including vision and hearing) 

Early Start can help your child catch up in their skills.

A developmental delay can also be a sign of a developmental disability. In California, developmental disabilities are considered lifelong and must exist before age 18. 

The following conditions are considered to be a developmental disability: 

• Autism 

• Cerebral palsy 

• Epilepsy 

• Intellectual disability 

• Other conditions that require treatment similar to a person with intellectual disability 

Early intervention services help babies and young children learn basic and new skills that typically develop during the first three years of life.

Any child under 3 years of age may be eligible if they:

• Have a developmental delay of at least 25% in one or more of the following: 

o Cognitive (thinking and learning) 

o Expressive communication (talking and expressing self) 

o Receptive communication (understanding language) 

o Social and emotional (feeling, expressing, interacting) 

o Adaptive (everyday living skills like eating, dressing, caring for self) 

o Physical and motor development, including vision and hearing (walking, moving, seeing, and hearing) 

• Have an established risk condition of known cause, with a high likelihood of delayed development or; 

• Are likely to have a developmental delay due to a number of risks that have been confirmed by a professional

Eligibility is NOT dependent on 

• Family income 

• Immigration status

You may be asked to see if your family’s medical insurance or another resource will pay for some of the services. Needed services not covered by insurance can be purchased or provided by the regional center. There are resources available to see if you are qualified for little to no cost health care services like Medi-Cal. Some families who don’t receive Medi-Cal may have to pay a small fee for some services.