Hi, my name is Leah Sandiford. As an Early Interventionist at York Region, I support
families who have children with special needs. People ask what I like the most about my job
and that’s easy. I love to be a part of a family’s journey and to watch their child
learn and develop. I love seeing the difference that early intervention makes in a family’s
life.
When our daughter was initially diagnosed, we were very confused about where to go and
what to do. It was difficult. We were worried about what the future would hold for her,
but our early interventionist provided recommendations on how to best support her.
We had a very positive experience with York Region’s Early Intervention Services. We
learned a lot about how to help her develop and reach her full potential.
We work closely with you, your child and your family. Together, we use everyday moments
in your child’s daily routines and turn them into opportunities for your child to
learn and develop. We work together as a team to provide early
intervention support to the whole family and not just the child with special needs. You
know your child best and you play the most important role in your child’s learning
and development. By spending time with children and their families
where they are most comfortable, whether that’s at home or in one of our office locations,
we help parents better understand their child’s development.
From the beginning, we established a great rapport with our early interventionist. We
really worked as a team to help support our daughter’s best interests. We have been
able to help to learn to regulate her behaviour, manage transitions and develop the skills
that she needs to interact with our family and friends. And our early interventionist
connected us with resources within the community that we didn’t even know existed.
Our visits are about an hour long every two to four weeks, depending on your family’s
needs. We get to know your child and your family and together, we create goals and identify
strategies to support your child’s development. We work together as a team to achieve these
goals through discussion, problem solving and coaching. Embedding intervention strategies
into your family’s daily routines is the best way for your child to learn. These activities
are predictable, functional, repetitive and meaningful.
We are also here to connect your family with other supports to help your child’s needs
such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, funding supports and recreational programs.
One of the first thoughts that crossed my mind after our daughter’s diagnosis a few
years ago was how she was going to do when she started school. It was nerve-racking just
thinking about it. I still wonder about the future but our early interventionist helped
us learn how to advocate for our daughter to get her whatever support she needs to continue
to grow and develop. I feel genuinely hopeful that she will continue to learn and be able
to meet her full potential.
We can’t wait to meet your family and answer any questions you may have.