Early Childhood Special Education: Ages 3-5

Early Childhood Special Education services in Douglas County support children from 3 years to 5 years (kindergarten age) who experience developmental delays or disabilities. Our goal is to help children develop the skills they need to success in preschool and prepare children from kindergarten.

Our Model

If a child is determined eligible to receive services, an Individual Family Service Plan is developed by the family and an education team made up of specialists designed to support learning and development. Each child has access to a multi-disciplinary team of professionals, including early childhoods special educators, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, autism specialists, service coordinators, hearing specialists, and vision specialists.

Families are the primary participants in a child’s team. This collaborative team ensures that every child’s unique needs are addressed. Each child also receives support from a service coordinator, who serves as the central point of contact for your child’s service plan. This support assists families with identifying available resources, communication with team members, and ensures services are delivered effectively and seamlessly.

All services are at no cost to the family. Referrals for evaluations and/or services can be made by a parent, physician, preschool staff, child providers, nurses, family members or anyone concerned about a child’s development. A doctor’s referral is not needed.

You can reach us by phone at (541) 440-4794.

A child in a playschool setting who is standing and playing with a standing sandbox with blue sand. There are wooden pieces in the sandbox. Behind the child is a green tall plant and a sheving with a rainbow toy and a small succulent.

Service Options

For children ages 3 years to 5 years of age, we provide a range of specialized services to meet each child’s individual needs. This is supported by a variety of educational opportunities designed to prepare children for kindergarten. Service options include:

Community Preschool or Childcare Setting

Support in a community preschool or childcare setting, with a push in, pull out model depending on a child’s unique educational needs. The child’s multi-disciplinary team provides direct and consultation services for children in these settings. Direct services will be provided within the child’s preschool or childcare daily activities as well as individual services, as needed in a controlled, quiet environment. Consultation services are provided to families and preschool and childcare providers. Our teams provide a coaching model to families, preschool and childcare providers as well as supports families in advocation for their child’s unique needs.

Speech & Language Groups

Speech and language groups, focusing on developing a child’s communication and social-communication skills. Speech groups provide a language enriched opportunity for children experiencing speech and language needs. Individualized supports are provided in this setting along with whole group opportunities allowing for practice on identified speech and language needs with opportunities to generalize these targeted goals alongside peers. Coaching opportunities are provided to families to support their child’s unique speech and language needs.

ECSE Therapy Classrooms

Early Childhood Special Education therapy classrooms, located across Douglas County including 4 classrooms in the Green area. Three classrooms are located on our Green campus and another classroom located at Sunnyslope elementary. We also have a classroom located at Myrtle Creek Elementary, and a classroom located at Yoncalla Elementary school. These therapeutic classrooms are designed to address all areas of development, focusing on each child’s individual education needs.

Individual Services

Individual Services, located at a provider’s location, teletherapy or in some cases in the family’s home. Based on the child’s individual speech and language needs, medical need, and family needs this setting offers an environment with limited distractions and interruptions to the family’s daily routines. For some children with specific medical needs, this placement also allows for a safe environment to meet the needs. Coaching and modeling of speech and language skills is provided to the family during individualized sessions.