Holmes Learning Bridge fills gab between early intervention, preschool

MILLERSBURG − A new program to assist parents of children ages 3-5 years old with developmental delays was highlighted by visitors to the Holmes County commissioners, who delivered a proclamation recognizing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities (HCBDD) Superintendent Marianne Mader and staff members Sharon Allison and Renee Spencer were joined by Summer McCluggage, the mother of a child with autism who shared her experience with the Learning Bridge.

Spencer, manager of the early childhood development program for HCBDD said the newly introduced Learning Bridge program was developed to bridge the gap for children between early intervention and preschool. The program was piloted last year and the board approved it this year.

Many times children have been enrolled in the early intervention program and are moving on to preschool, but the family still needs extra help with their child during regular routines at home, she said at Monday's commissioners meeting. Learning Bridge also can help families use the strategies at home that teachers use at preschool.

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A parent explains how Learning Bridge helps

"Early intervention has been a huge blessing for our family," McCluggage said. "If not for them specifically, I can't even tell you when we would have received a diagnosis of autism in the first place. It is a very long and thorough process."

She noted it took nearly a year from the time they suspected autism until they got the official diagnosis.

McCluggage said her son, Bennett, received one-on-one therapy through the early intervention program, but that program only serves children until they turn 3.

"When a child turns 3 and goes to preschool, they go from one-on-one therapy to a new place, a huge group of kids, a new teacher and there is minimal communication between teachers and parents," McCluggage said. "The transition can be very bumpy, especially for special needs kids. My son is nonverbal, so he can't come home and tell me why he is having a bad day."

She said the Learning Bridge comes into play in the transition period.

"Sharon comes in and addresses these issues at home, bridging the gap between preschool and home, and children developmentally, once they turn three, face a whole new world of struggles because they are growing, individualizing and becoming their own person," McCluggage said.

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The Learning Bridge provides families with resources they would not normally have. A visual schedule helps the special needs children understand and anticipate what is coming, making something as routine as going to school less traumatic. A recommended book to help navigate autism costs $60, which many families cannot afford, is available through the Learning Bridge.

McCluggage said parents with special needs children have to educate themselves, and cannot expect other people to figure everything out for them, and advocate for their children to help keep them from slipping through the cracks.

"The Learning Bridge makes it possible to where once it is figured out what help children need, they can get this help," she said. "The earlier they get the help they need, the better future they have, and a better chance they have at being a contributing member of society, which we all want for them."

A long history of intervention

Spencer said she and Allison have worked together in early intervention for 20 years, and have seen this as a need for a long time.

"We get just a handful of visits before age 3, and there are so many needs," she said. "Every routine, bath time, meal time, going somewhere, everything can be a challenge, and it would literally break our heart when we only could get a few visits and then have to end services."

Spencer said the Learning Bridge was proposed as a need in the county, and she appreciates the DD board for implementing it.

"We're just one of a handful of counties in the state that has essentially extended early intervention to age 5 instead of ending at age 3," she said. "We don't have the capabilities to do it for all children, but for the children with the highest needs. We're thankful for county support."

A 'safety net to serve as a bridge is vital'

Commissioner Dave Hall commended McCluggage for her passion in describing the program and being a parent standing up for her child.

"You all need to be commended for what you do," Hall said to Mader, Spencer and Allison. "Having some sort of a safety net to serve as a bridge is vital, and I commend all of you for being such a good team here."

Mader said anybody who has a child who doesn't seem to be meeting their milestones can get their child tested.

"Sometimes when it's a first child, you don't know, but when you spend time with other moms and their little ones, you can see," she said. "The CDC does have a list of milestones for certain age groups, and I encourage any parent if their child isn't meeting those milestones, you can self refer, and we can come out and do an evaluation."

Spencer added the program is voluntary and it is non-committal. Families can choose how often or if they don't want to participate.

Having a child is an expensive venture, and having a child with special needs is an extra expensive venture, and the the HCBDD has funding available to eligible families to pay for disability related things to help families in a variety of ways.

"Those tax dollars do a lot of good and help a lot of people," Mader said.

She invited everyone to come out to West Holmes High School at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, to cheer on the Holmes County Bucks basketball team as it take on the community all-stars.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Holmes Learning Bridge fills gab between early intervention, preschool