Which option is considered an early intervention service under IDEA?

• A. Medical services for ongoing treatment
• B. Summer school
• C. Family training
• D. Speech therapy

Answer: (C)

Early Intervention services under IDEA are designed to support infants and toddlers with disabilities and, just as importantly, empower their families to help the child develop in everyday activities and routines in natural environments. The reason this option stands out is that it involves training and coaching families so they can implement strategies at home and in daily life. By equipping caregivers with concrete techniques—like language modeling during play or routines that promote social interaction—the child’s development is supported across everyday moments, not just during a therapy session. This family-centered approach is a hallmark of early intervention, making family training the best example among the choices.

Medical services for ongoing treatment are health-oriented services that may be required but aren’t the classic early intervention service focused on enabling development through family involvement. Summer school is an education service typically outside of Part C’s early intervention framework. Speech therapy is a recognized service that can be part of early intervention, but it doesn’t highlight the family-centered, everyday-context coaching that family training provides.