Continuity of Early Intervention Services in New York City During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Stella Kasamba Bureau of Early Intervention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, New York, USA
  • Katharine H. McVeigh Bureau of Early Intervention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, New York, USA
  • Aurora Moraes Bureau of Early Intervention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, New York, USA
  • Ying Huang Bureau of Early Intervention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, New York, USA
  • Nora Puffett Bureau of Early Intervention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, New York, USA
  • Lidiya Lednyak Bureau of Early Intervention, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York City, New York, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2023.6553

Keywords:

Children with disabilities, COVID-19, Early intervention services, Health services research, Teletherapy

Abstract

In response to COVID-19, the New York City Early Intervention (EI) Program rapidly transitioned from in-person to teletherapy services.  We describe the timing of service resumption among children who received EI services between March 1 and March 17, 2020. The proportion of children who transitioned to teletherapy-only was 25% as of March 24, rising to 78% by July 6. By December 31, 2020, 87% of the cohort had resumed either teletherapy or in-person services. Child age, race, language, and neighborhood poverty all predicted service resumption timing. Children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder were more likely to transition to teletherapy, and children with only 1-2 domains of delay were more likely to discontinue services altogether. Continuity of EI services during the COVID-19 public health emergency was a critical priority. Timely policy changes facilitated swift return to services and avoided exacerbation of the long-standing racial disparities in access to EI services.

  

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Published

2023-05-11

How to Cite

Kasamba, S., McVeigh, K. H., Moraes, A., Huang, Y., Puffett, N., & Lednyak, L. (2023). Continuity of Early Intervention Services in New York City During the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2023.6553

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Early Intervention

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Copyright (c) 2023 Stella Kasamba, Katharine H. McVeigh, Aurora Moraes, Ying Huang, Nora Puffett, Lidiya Lednyak

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