When your child is very young and has an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) early therapy can make a big difference — not just for your child’s growth, but for your whole family’s confidence in supporting them.
Here’s how each type of therapy helps:
Speech Therapy
Speech-language pathologists (SLP’s) help babies and toddlers learn how to communicate — whether through sounds, gestures, words, or other forms of expression. They can also work on feeding and swallowing skills if your child has trouble eating.
For a baby or toddler, this might look like learning to make new sounds, respond to their name, point to request things, or use early words or signs.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Occupational therapists focus on helping your child participate in daily routines — like playing, feeding, dressing, and exploring their environment.
They support fine motor skills (such as grasping toys), sensory development (understanding touch, sound, and movement), and self-help skills. For babies and toddlers, OT often looks like guided play that helps your child learn through movement and exploration.
Physical Therapy (PT)
Physical therapists help babies and toddlers strengthen their muscles, improve coordination, and develop mobility skills such as rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking.
PT sessions may include gentle stretches, exercises, or fun movement activities that help your child gain confidence in how their body moves.
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Together, these therapies build the foundation for your child’s growth — helping them communicate, play, move, and connect in ways that support lifelong learning and independence.
Early intervention services are designed to be play-based, family-centered, and flexible, meeting your child where they are and supporting progress in small, meaningful steps.
At SACRD.org/idd, we connect families to early supports that help every child grow, learn, and thrive.
