Moving forward: one family's journey through Early Intervention services at RHSC.
Jalani, affectionately known as "Lani" to the staff at Rochester Hearing & Speech Center, is a sweet, funny and determined little girl who loves music, friends and her dog, Jello. Lani was born prematurely after a difficult pregnancy for her mom, Jayden. It soon became clear to her family that Lani wasn’t meeting her developmental milestones.
Like many families of children with special needs, Jayden and Terri met with doctors and specialists regarding Lani’s medical needs and developmental delays until they were finally referred to Monroe County’s Early Intervention program. Because ninety percent of a child's brain development happens in the first few years, not only is early identification of developmental delays and disabilities important, but access to therapeutic services is crucial. Lani qualified for these services but was one of the hundreds of children placed on the waitlist.
New York State's Early Intervention Program (EI) offers services, free of charge for families, to infants and toddlers from birth through age three who have or are suspected of having a development delay or disability. Once Monroe County determines that a child is eligible, providers likes RHSC offer speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and/or special education to address their specific developmental needs. The Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that children receive services within 30 days of evaluation. However, in Monroe County, there are on average 700 children waiting for Early Intervention services for more than 30 days due to provider shortages. Many children age out of the program without ever receiving the mandated services.
RHSC is the only nonprofit provider of EI services remaining in Monroe County. RHSC is only able to continue to deliver EI services to help children achieve Communication for Life because of the generosity of our community. Low reimbursement rates and workforce shortages of physical and occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists have forced other programs to close. Reimbursement rates for EI services are $14 less today than they were when the program began in 1994. In spite of these challenges, RHSC currently provides Early Intervention services to more than 300 children each year.
When Lani was sixteen months old, Jayden and Lani’s grandmother Terri started bringing Lani to RHSC’s EI Playdates for children on the wait list for Early Intervention services and their families. Held monthly, EI Playdates, funded by the Golisano Foundation, provided Jayden and Terri with the opportunity to interact with licensed therapists while Lani engaged in developmentally appropriate activities.
Sara Calus PT, DPT, RHSC’s Director of Educational & Clinical Services, regularly attends these playdates. Sara suggested activities and support tips Lani's family might be able to implement at home and answered questions about the EI process in Monroe County. Through teamwork and communication, it was determined that Lani would be an excellent candidate for Early Intervention Developmental Group services at RHSC. In an EI Developmental Group, Lani would receive occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language therapy and special education services concurrently through a structured learning environment based on play. Delivered in a small group setting, EI Developmental Groups would provide Lani with a peer-group and Lani’s family with a support system.
Shortly after Lani's second birthday, a space opened at RHSC and she began receiving occupational, physical and speech therapies as well as special education. When Lani enrolled, she had limited speech and would shuffle instead of crawling or trying to stand and was a more than a year behind her developmental milestones. For the first four months, RHSC staff had to carry her from classroom to classroom because she couldn't keep up with the other children. Five months after starting at RHSC, Jayden and Terri agreed that "Jalani's body is noticeably stronger, and her speech is starting to take off!” Lani began using a pediatric walker for mobility and was so proud of herself when she met her mom at the door walking with assistance from Sara. Soon afterward, she was fitted with AFO (ankle, foot orthosis) braces which she used to further support herself and became even more mobile while using her walker. Right before her third birthday in December 2025, Lani took her first unassisted steps at RHSC, an occasion that was celebrated by everyone!
As Lani "aged out" of Early Intervention at the end of 2025, she continued to receive one-on-one preschool therapeutic services at RHSC through the Rochester City School District. Jayden and Terri continued to see her social engagement bloom. Lani is now walking more on her own at home, and her speech has continued to improve - her favorite sentence "Are you kidding me?". She talks a lot and gets her point across. Her funny, engaging personality really shines. Lani is catching up developmentally to her peers and graduated from the RHSC program in August. Lani is eager to begin preschool this fall.
Her grandmother Terri says, "Lani would not be where she is today without Rochester Hearing & Speech Center." "Working together as a team, not only were her therapists at RHSC able to give Lani what she needed each day, but she had the benefit of a motivating peer group." She also insists that" RHSC's EI Developmental Group is a unique program that made a huge impact.” She also adds that "Lani will be in an integrated classroom at preschool this fall because of RHSC. RHSC changed Lani's life and moved her forward."
Lani, like the other children who receive timely occupational, physical and speech therapy and special education services at RHSC, is becoming more independent, better able to communicate with those around them and ready for their next steps into the world.
This is fantastic. Despite the challenges in funding and respect for your work, you're changing lives. Thanks for all you do!