10-Minute Speech Practice That Doesn't Require Sitting Still

Last updated 2026-07-09

What is the Illinois Early Intervention program?

Illinois Early Intervention is the state's version of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). ^[1] Congress created Part C in 1986 to build statewide systems for infants and toddlers, birth through age 2, who have developmental delays or conditions that put them at risk for delays. Illinois has run its program since 1991.

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) runs the program at the state level. ^[2] Local delivery goes through a network of more than 20 Child and Family Connections (CFC) offices spread across the state, each covering a defined region. The CFC office is your entry point. They manage the intake call, coordinate the evaluation, write the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), and assign a service coordinator who stays with your family the whole way.

The idea behind EI is straightforward. Early, focused support during the brain's most plastic years produces better long-term outcomes than waiting. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that "early intervention services have been shown to improve children's functional abilities across multiple developmental domains." ^[3] Decades of longitudinal data sit behind that claim, including the 30-year follow-up from the Abecedarian Project.

When your child turns 3, the program hands them off to services under IDEA Part B, which means your local school district takes over. That handoff, called the transition plan, must begin at least 90 days before the third birthday under Illinois rules. ^[2]

Who qualifies for early intervention in Illinois?

Eligibility runs on two tracks in Illinois.

The first is a measured developmental delay. Illinois sets the bar at a delay of 30 percent or more below age-expected performance in one developmental area, or a delay of 20 percent or more in two or more areas. ^[4] The areas are cognitive development, communication (speech and language), physical development (including vision and hearing), social or emotional development, and adaptive or self-help skills. Evaluators measure these with standardized tools and clinical observation.

The second track is a diagnosed condition with a high probability of causing a delay. Illinois keeps a list of these established conditions, and it includes Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder (when formally diagnosed), and significant hearing or vision loss. ^[4] A child with an established condition qualifies automatically, no percentage delay required. This matters a lot for families who get an early ASD diagnosis at 18 or 24 months. You don't have to wait for test scores to prove a delay.

Residency in Illinois is required. Citizenship is not. Age is the hard cutoff: the child must be under 3 when services begin. There is no income threshold for eligibility itself, though cost-sharing is income-based (more on that below).

One more thing worth knowing. Illinois also has a developmental risk category for children who don't yet show a measurable delay but whose biological or environmental circumstances put them at elevated risk. Eligibility under this category is more discretionary, and not every CFC office applies it the same way. If your child is borderline, ask the evaluator directly whether the risk category applies.

What developmental delays or conditions qualify for speech therapy through EI?

Speech and language is one of the five developmental areas Illinois evaluates. ^[4] It's also the most common reason families call. A child who isn't babbling by 12 months, using single words by 16 months, or combining two words by 24 months is showing signs that warrant an evaluation. Those aren't arbitrary numbers. They come from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's developmental norms and the AAP's surveillance guidance. ^[3][5]

If the evaluation finds a 30 percent or greater delay in communication alone, the child qualifies for speech-language therapy under the IFSP. If the delay is between 20 and 29 percent in communication and there's also a delay in one other area (say, fine motor or social-emotional), the child qualifies under the two-domain rule.

Conditions that often lead to EI speech services include:

• Autism spectrum disorder (established condition, automatic eligibility)
• Childhood apraxia of speech (learn more about childhood apraxia of speech)
• Cleft palate or other structural differences
• Significant hearing loss
• Feeding and swallowing difficulties that affect oral motor development
• Global developmental delay

For children with autism, EI can introduce augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies very early. Research published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders has consistently shown that introducing aac devices before age 3 does not suppress spoken language and often speeds it up. ^[6] That finding still surprises some families, and even some older providers.

If your child is showing signs like echolalia (repeating words or phrases rather than generating original language), flag it during the intake call. Echolalia is common in toddlers with autism and certain language delays, and it can point the team toward the right therapy approach.

How do you refer a child to Illinois Early Intervention?

The referral process is simpler than most parents expect. You call the statewide EI hotline at 1-800-323-4769. ^[2] That number routes to your regional CFC office based on your zip code. Your child's pediatrician, childcare provider, or any other professional can also make the referral for you.

Federal law requires the evaluation to be completed within 45 days of a referral. ^[1] Illinois follows that timeline. The CFC contacts you to schedule an intake meeting, then arranges a multidisciplinary evaluation team to assess your child across all five developmental domains.

The evaluation is free. No insurance is billed for the eligibility evaluation. Evaluators come to your home or a natural setting of your choice, because IDEA requires evaluation in environments that reflect where the child actually spends time.

After the evaluation, if your child qualifies, the team holds an IFSP meeting within the same 45-day window. The IFSP is a written plan listing what services your child will get, how often, and what the family's goals are. Unlike an IEP (a school document focused on academic outcomes), the IFSP centers the whole family. It can include parent coaching, resources for siblings, and goals built around daily routines like mealtimes and bedtime.

If your child does not qualify, you have the right to request an independent evaluation. Illinois's procedural safeguards mirror the federal IDEA requirements, and the CFC must give you written notice explaining the decision and your appeal rights.

What does Illinois Early Intervention cost for families?

The evaluation and service coordination are free to all families. ^[2] Therapeutic services run on a sliding-scale fee schedule based on family income and size. Illinois calls this the family cost participation (FCP) system.

Families below 200 percent of the federal poverty level pay nothing for services. Families above that threshold pay a monthly fee that scales with income, capped at a maximum IDHS resets periodically. As of the most recent published fee schedules, the maximum monthly family contribution is around $60 to $70 per month regardless of how many services the child receives, though you should verify the current amount with your CFC because it changes. ^[2]

EI providers must bill your private health insurance first (if you have it), then Medicaid, and the family FCP applies to any remaining cost. Here's the part families miss: if your insurer applies EI charges to your deductible and that raises your out-of-pocket costs, Illinois has a process to hold families harmless so insurance billing doesn't make things worse for you. Ask your service coordinator directly about the insurance hold harmless policy.

Note: Exact fee brackets get updated by IDHS and may differ from the approximations above. Confirm with your CFC office.

Here's the bottom line. Almost no family in Illinois pays the full commercial cost of speech therapy through EI. A 45-minute session of private speech therapy in Illinois runs $150 to $250. EI families rarely pay more than a few hundred dollars per year total.

What services can a child receive through Illinois Early Intervention?

IDEA Part C defines a list of early intervention services that states must make available. ^[1] Illinois covers all of them. The ones families use most:

• Speech-language pathology (the most frequently provided service)
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Developmental therapy (sometimes called special instruction)
• Audiology
• Nutrition services
• Social work services
• Vision services
• Assistive technology, including AAC devices
• Service coordination (provided to every family automatically)
• Family training and counseling

Services happen in the child's natural environment by federal requirement. ^[1] For most toddlers, that means home. It can also mean a childcare setting, a grandparent's house, or a park. The point is that therapy happens where the child's real life happens, not in a clinic waiting room.

Frequency gets set in the IFSP based on the child's individual needs, not a statewide formula. A child with a significant speech delay might get two 45-minute speech therapy sessions per week. A child with a mild delay across two areas might get one session every two weeks. The team makes this call together, and parents are equal members of the IFSP team with the right to request more services if they think the child needs them.

For children showing early signs of autism, EI can coordinate several service types at once. ^[7] A speech-language pathologist and a developmental therapist might co-treat, or the IFSP might include parent coaching sessions to help caregivers use naturalistic language strategies throughout the day. That coaching matters. Research published in Pediatrics found that caregiver-mediated interventions produce language gains that persist well past the intervention period. ^[8]

How long does early intervention last in Illinois, and what happens at age 3?

EI services continue until a child's third birthday. That's the federal age cutoff under IDEA Part C, and Illinois follows it without exception. ^[1]

The transition out of EI is not a cliff. Illinois requires the IFSP team to start planning the transition at least 90 days before the child turns 3. ^[2] The service coordinator sets up a transition conference, which usually includes the family, current EI providers, and a representative from the child's local school district.

After age 3, children who still need services move to IDEA Part B, run by the local education agency (usually the school district). Under Part B, eligible children ages 3 to 5 get preschool special education services, which may include speech-language therapy, through an Individualized Education Program (IEP). The services stay free, but the legal framework shifts. The IEP focuses on educational goals, and the school district (not IDHS) is in charge.

Some families find the transition rough because EI's IFSP model is more family-centered than the school IEP model. The intensity of services can change too. An EI child might have gotten speech therapy twice a week at home, but the school district may offer once a week in a small group. If you think your child needs more, you have the right to ask for it at the IEP meeting, and you can bring an advocate.

For families thinking about what comes after EI, understanding early intervention more broadly and the range of speech therapy options after age 3 can help you plan ahead before that third birthday arrives.

How does the Illinois Early Intervention evaluation work?

The evaluation is multidisciplinary, meaning at least two different specialists assess the child across the five developmental domains. ^[1] In practice, Illinois usually sends a team that might include a speech-language pathologist, a developmental therapist, and sometimes an occupational therapist, depending on what the intake suggests.

Evaluators use standardized assessment tools. Common ones in Illinois EI include the Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI-3), the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-4), and the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales (CSBS). The percentage-delay thresholds (30% in one area, 20% in two) get calculated from these scores.

But scores alone don't decide eligibility. Evaluators also use structured observation and clinical judgment. A child who scores just above the cutoff on a standardized test but shows clear functional communication difficulties in natural observation can still qualify if the team documents it well. Ask evaluators to watch your child during a natural activity, more than during structured table tasks, because toddlers often perform differently in those two settings.

Parent report is part of the evaluation too. Tools like the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs) use parent reports of vocabulary and gesture to supplement direct testing. You know your child better than anyone in that room, and your observations carry weight.

If the first evaluation doesn't result in eligibility and you still have concerns, you can request a new evaluation in 6 months, or sooner if you have evidence of significant change. You also have the right to an independent evaluation if you disagree with the team's findings.

What if my child is on a waitlist or there's a provider shortage?

This is the honest part. Provider shortages in Illinois EI are real, and they've gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Illinois has documented gaps in EI providers, especially speech-language pathologists, in rural areas and some suburban regions. The Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse and advocacy groups have raised this publicly. ^[9] Federal law says services must begin within 30 days of the signed IFSP, but that assumes providers are available. When they're not, families sometimes wait weeks or months.

If your child is on a waitlist:

1. Ask your service coordinator to document the gap in writing and keep a copy. 2. Ask whether providers in nearby regions are taking new clients. Some families travel. 3. Ask whether a different service type (like developmental therapy) can begin while you wait for an SLP slot. 4. Look into online speech therapy as a bridge. Illinois EI allows telehealth delivery for some services under updated federal and state guidance post-2020, though the policy specifics keep evolving, so confirm with your CFC.

In the meantime, parent coaching is one of the most evidence-supported things you can do at home. The Hanen Centre's It Takes Two to Talk program has randomized trial support showing that parent-implemented language strategies produce measurable gains in late talkers. ^[8] Your service coordinator can point you toward training resources even before formal therapy sessions begin.

If you want a structured way to practice language-building routines at home between sessions, Little Words (littlewords.ai) is an AI speech companion built for neurodivergent kids and late talkers. It's not a replacement for your SLP, but it can keep the work going on the days therapy isn't scheduled.

How does Illinois Early Intervention compare to other states?

All 50 states must have a Part C program under IDEA, but each state gets wide latitude in how it structures things. ^[1] Illinois lands as a mid-to-strong program by national standards, with universal eligibility criteria (not income-based), a central intake line, and a service coordinator system that reaches every family. The sliding-scale cost cap runs lower than many states.

Where Illinois lags is provider supply in some regions and the efficiency of its claims reimbursement system, which has historically caused payment delays that feed provider turnover. The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAS) tracks state-level data and publishes annual reports with outcome comparisons. ^[10]

The eligibility threshold is one place Illinois is more generous than some states. A state using a 50 percent delay cutoff would only serve kids with the most severe delays. Illinois's 30 percent threshold catches kids earlier, which is exactly when intervention works best.

What should parents do right now if they have concerns about their child's development?

Start the clock. The 45-day evaluation timeline doesn't begin until a referral comes in, so every week you wait is a week that doesn't count.

Call 1-800-323-4769. You do not need a doctor's referral to make that call. You do not need a diagnosis. You do not need the right vocabulary for what you're seeing. "My 18-month-old doesn't have any words and I'm worried" is enough to open a referral.

Bring the pediatrician in. The AAP recommends developmental surveillance at every well-child visit and formal developmental screening using validated tools (like the M-CHAT-R for autism) at 18 and 24 months. ^[3] If your pediatrician is dismissive and tells you to wait and see, you have every right to request a referral anyway, or to call EI yourself. Watch-and-wait costs children time they can't get back, and the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders notes that early treatment for speech and language disorders produces better outcomes than delayed treatment. ^[11]

Document what you observe. Video your child during meals, play, and bedtime. Note the date. Note what words or sounds they use. This helps the evaluation team and it helps you track change over time.

Learn what typical development looks like so you can describe the specific gap. ASHA publishes speech and language developmental milestones for free online. ^[5] If you're reading about apraxia of speech or autism spectrum speech therapy because something feels like more than simple late talking, bring those observations to the evaluation. The more specific you are, the more useful the evaluation tends to be.

And give yourself some grace. Catching this early and doing something about it is exactly the right move. That's what this program is for.

Frequently asked questions

How do I refer my child to Illinois Early Intervention?

Call the Illinois EI hotline at 1-800-323-4769. Any adult can make the referral, including parents, grandparents, childcare providers, or doctors. You don't need a diagnosis or a physician's order. After the call, your regional Child and Family Connections office will contact you to begin intake. The full evaluation must be completed within 45 days of referral.

What is the age cutoff for Illinois Early Intervention?

Children must be under 3 years old when services begin. Specifically, they must not yet have reached their third birthday. There is no minimum age. A newborn with a qualifying condition can be referred at birth. After age 3, children who still need services transition to the local school district under IDEA Part B preschool special education.

Does my child need an autism diagnosis to get EI speech services in Illinois?

No. Your child can qualify through the developmental delay track without any formal diagnosis. If a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder has been made, it counts as an established condition and your child is automatically eligible without needing to show a percentage delay. Either path works. A formal ASD diagnosis is not required to start the EI referral process.

How long does the Illinois Early Intervention evaluation take?

Federal law requires the evaluation and the initial IFSP meeting to be completed within 45 days of the referral date. Illinois follows this timeline. The evaluation itself usually takes one to two visits, each lasting one to two hours, depending on the child's age and how many developmental areas need assessment.

Is Illinois Early Intervention free?

The evaluation and service coordination are always free. Therapeutic services use a sliding-scale family cost participation system. Families at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level pay nothing. Families above that threshold pay a monthly fee capped at roughly $60 to $70 per month regardless of how many services the child receives. Confirm current fee amounts with your CFC office.

What if my child doesn't qualify for Illinois Early Intervention?

You'll receive a written notice explaining the decision and your appeal rights. You can request an independent evaluation if you disagree. You can also reapply in 6 months if your child's development changes. Private speech therapy, community-based developmental programs, and parent-coaching resources are options in the meantime. Ask your pediatrician for a referral to a developmental pediatrician if concerns persist.

Can Illinois Early Intervention services be done at home?

Yes. Federal law requires EI services to take place in the child's natural environment, which is usually the home for infants and toddlers. Services can also happen at a childcare center, a relative's home, or any setting where the child regularly spends time. Telehealth delivery is also permitted in Illinois for some services, which expanded significantly after 2020.

What is a Child and Family Connections office in Illinois?

Child and Family Connections (CFC) offices are the local access points for the Illinois Early Intervention program. There are more than 20 CFC offices across the state, each serving a geographic region. The CFC manages intake, assigns a service coordinator, arranges evaluations, and facilitates IFSP meetings. Your service coordinator at the CFC is your main point of contact throughout the EI process.

What happens to my child's services when they turn 3 in Illinois?

EI services end on the third birthday. Illinois requires transition planning to begin at least 90 days before that date. If your child still needs services, they shift to IDEA Part B preschool special education through your local school district, with an IEP replacing the IFSP. The school district covers services at no cost to families, though the format and intensity may differ from EI.

Can I get a second opinion if I disagree with the Illinois EI evaluation results?

Yes. Illinois's procedural safeguards under IDEA give families the right to request an independent evaluation if they disagree with the eligibility determination. You also have the right to mediation and due process hearings. All of this must be explained in the prior written notice the CFC provides after an evaluation. Don't hesitate to ask your service coordinator to walk you through your rights.

What's the difference between Illinois Early Intervention and a preschool special education program?

EI is for children birth through age 2 under IDEA Part C, run by IDHS. It's family-centered, home-based, and uses an IFSP. Preschool special education is for children ages 3 to 5 under IDEA Part B, run by local school districts. It's more school-centered, uses an IEP focused on educational goals, and services typically happen in a school or preschool setting. Both are free to families.

Does Illinois Early Intervention cover speech therapy for a late talker who doesn't have autism?

Yes. Autism is not required. A child who simply isn't talking on schedule can qualify if they show a 30 percent or greater delay in the communication domain, or a 20 percent delay in communication plus one other area. Many children served by Illinois EI are late talkers with no other diagnosis. Speech-language pathology is one of the most commonly provided EI services in Illinois.

How do I find my local Child and Family Connections office in Illinois?

Call the statewide Illinois Early Intervention hotline at 1-800-323-4769. The call is automatically routed to your regional CFC based on your zip code. You can also visit the Illinois Department of Human Services website to find a map of CFC regions and direct office contact information.

Sources

1. U.S. Department of Education, IDEA Part C statute and regulations: IDEA Part C requires statewide EI programs for children birth through age 2, mandates evaluation within 45 days, and requires services in natural environments
2. Illinois Department of Human Services, Early Intervention program page: IDHS administers Illinois EI, the intake hotline is 1-800-323-4769, transition planning must begin 90 days before the third birthday, and the family cost participation system is described
3. American Academy of Pediatrics, Early Intervention policy statement: AAP states early intervention services improve functional abilities and recommends developmental surveillance and screening including M-CHAT-R at 18 and 24 months
4. Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Administrative Code Title 89 Part 500, EI eligibility criteria: Illinois defines EI eligibility as 30% delay in one domain or 20% delay in two or more domains, and lists established conditions that automatically qualify
5. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Speech and Language Developmental Milestones: ASHA publishes normative milestones including single words by 16 months and two-word combinations by 24 months
6. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (Springer), AAC and spoken language outcomes in young children with autism: Research published in JADD shows that introducing AAC before age 3 does not suppress spoken language development and often accelerates it
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism information: CDC notes that EI can coordinate multiple service types for children with autism and that early treatment improves outcomes
8. Pediatrics (AAP journal), caregiver-mediated intervention and language outcomes in late talkers: Caregiver-mediated language interventions produce language gains that persist past the intervention period; parent coaching programs like Hanen have randomized trial support
9. Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA/NECTAS), state Part C data: ECTA tracks state-level Part C data and publishes annual reports comparing state eligibility policies and outcomes
10. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Speech and Language Developmental Milestones: NIDCD states that early treatment for speech and language disorders produces better outcomes than delayed treatment