Project Find

Van Buren Intermediate School District Child Find and Children with Disabilities

The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education ACT, IDEA requires schools to identify, locate and evaluate children with disabilities. Either schools or parents/guardians can request a special education evaluation for a child who is not yet eligible for special education. If the school requests the evaluation, the school must contact the parent/guardian and request written consent (permission) to evaluate the child. If you are a parent/guardian who wants to request an evaluation, send a written, signed and dated request asking the school to evaluate your child.

VBISD’s Early On Program supports Michigan’s Early On campaign by helping to locate and identify young children birth through 3 who have an established condition, a developmental delay or are at risk of a developmental delay. VBISD’s Project Find supports the Build Up Michigan campaign by helping to locate and identify young children, ages 3 through 5, who may be in need of special education supports and/or services.

The VBISD assumes responsibility for child find awareness activities and outreach for preschool children. The VBISD Early Childhood Special Education Department is primarily responsible for coordinating child find outreach and awareness activities for children birth through age five including Early On and Build Up Michigan.

All local school districts in Van Buren County will assume responsibility for in-school and out-of-school youth up to the age of twenty-six through the local awareness activities and the special education referral process.

 

Project Find Infant and Preschool Evaluation Services

 

The Project Find Service provides developmental assessment for preschool age children not already enrolled in a public school program to determine if they qualify for special education services.  Project Find is a collaborative service with the Early On program and will generally see children after they turn 36 months of age (Early On will generally see children under 36 months of age).
 
A team of professionals will provide evaluation to determine eligibility for special education.  They will assist the parent in investigating appropriate programs available for their child.
 
Any interested parent or care provided may refer their preschool age child suspected of significant developmental delays in the following areas:

  •     Physical

  •     Mental

  •     Vision

  •     Hearing

  •     Speech and Language

  •     Autism

To inquire about services or make a referral to Project Find call:  (269) 539-5152.


For children under three years of age a referral may be made directly to the Early On Program:  (269) 539-5128 or (269) 539-5129.
If your child is enrolled in a private or public school in Van Buren County and you have a concern regarding a significant delay or suspect a disability, you should contact their teacher or school administrator.


Concerns regarding a preschool age child currently enrolled in your local school district Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) should also be referred to their teacher and local school administrator.  VBISD special education service providers are assigned to each of the GSRP in our local districts.