Early Intervention Services
Should your child in New York City be referred for initial service coordination by the Early Intervention Program to Marathon Infants & Toddlers, we will assign an initial service coordinator who will meet with you to ascertain what your concerns are for your child. The initial service coordinator will help you select an evaluation site to determine whether your child is eligible for early intervention services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy. Your child's eligibility for the Early Intervention Program will be determined only by State-approved evaluators under contract with the municipality. If our organization is selected to conduct the evaluation, we will evaluate your children in your home or at your child’s day care center or nursery school.
In New York City, if your child is found eligible for services, you will meet with an official of the City’s Early Intervention Program, the initial service coordinator and the evaluation site representative to develop a plan to help your child and your family. Children with certain diagnosed conditions at risk of developing serious delays, such a cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, are automatically eligible for early intervention services. Other children who have significant delays in development may be eligible for the Early Intervention Program.
The municipality will arrange for service providers, considering the individual needs of the child and family, to deliver services authorized by the municipality. Please note that your child’s health insurance may be used to cover some of the costs. All other costs for early intervention services are paid for by City, State, County and federal government agencies. You will not incur any out-of pocket costs. However, if your child attends a day care or nursery school you will be responsible for those costs.
Marathon Infants & Toddlers is approved by The New York State Early Intervention Program to offer the following services:
• Speech/Language Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Special Instruction
• Service Coordination
• Evaluations
• Vision Therapy
• Sensory Integration Therapy
• Feeding Therapy
• Counseling / Social Work
• Family Training
• Play Therapy
We can generally provide all of these services in English and Spanish. In addition interventionists in selected disciplines are available in various areas of the city that can provide bilingual services in Russian, Portuguese, French, Chinese and Indian languages, Arabic, Italian, Hebrew, Yiddish, Creole and Tagalog.
In Nassau county Marathon provides ongoing service coordination and treatment for children found eligible for Early Intervention services.
In Nassau county we can provide occupational therapy, physical therapy, special instruction, speech pathology and speech teacher services in selected areas in Spanish, Hebrew, Italian and Creole.
Our evaluators and interventionists have all been selected with the utmost care. All are New York State certified or licensed in their specialties. All have been approved by the New York State Department of Health to evaluate and/or treat early intervention children. All have been cleared with the New York State Medicaid Compliance Office. In addition prior to submitting documents to these governmental agencies for their approval, the Executive Director has personally interviewed every evaluator and interventionist and checked his or her references.
COVID-19 Emergency
During the period of the COVID-19 emergency service coordination, evaluations
and therapeutic services may be provided via telehealth or in-person.
Speech Language Therapy
Speech Language Therapists assess, diagnose and treat communication and swallowing difficulties. Our speech and language therapy services help children with delays in communication skills or oral pharyngeal disorders.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy helps children develop skills to grow into functional and independent adults by focusing on improving the ability to perform activities of daily living.
Occupational Therapy works on remembering shapes and sequences, finger, wrist and hand strength, balance and body coordination, dressing, bathing and self-feeding and taking turns, listening and following directions.
Physical Therapy
Physical Therapy helps children improve the ability to perform movement, motor development and body function (strength and endurance).
Physical Therapy uses exercise, massage and other techniques to boost mobility and muscle strength.
Special Instruction
Special Instruction Therapy promotes the child’s acquisition of skills in a variety of developmental areas including cognitive processes and social interactions.
Providing families with information, skills, and support related to enhancing the skill development of the child; and working with the child to enhance the child’s development
Service Coordination
Our Early Intervention Service Coordinators will help the family receive the services and supports needed and to ensure that the family’s and child’s rights are protected. Service coordination is a process, which continues throughout the time the child is receiving Early Intervention services.
The Service Coordinator serves as a single point of contact for the family and is responsible for coordinating services, which may be delivered by multiple providers. When parents have questions about Early Intervention, they should first call their Service Coordinator. Our Service Coordinators have knowledge of the law and of community resources that may be available to the family.