Early intervention: how to access services in the US, Spain, and the UK

Quick answer. How you access early intervention depends entirely on the country: in the US it’s a state program with a legally guaranteed free evaluation; in Spain it depends on your autonomous region and isn’t a nationally recognized right; in the UK it’s managed through each local authority’s “Local Offer.”

Why it matters. If you assume there’s “one path” to ask for help, you can lose months looking at the wrong door. Knowing which system applies in your country — or even your region — from the start saves time that matters most in the earliest years of development.

What the source says.

United States. Early intervention programs for infants and toddlers are run by each state’s health agencies. The evaluation to determine eligibility is free if performed by a state-authorized entity, and no eligible child can be denied services for inability to pay — though insurance may be billed or a sliding scale applied depending on the state. Services are individualized in a document called the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) (NDSS).

Spain. Unlike the US, early intervention (atención temprana) is not recognized as a subjective right under state law — it depends on each autonomous region’s regulations. Two state-level laws mention it without fully regulating it: the General Disability Law (2013) references “functional medical rehabilitation” that should begin “at the earliest possible stage,” and the Dependency Law (2006) covers children under 3, but only if they have a recognized degree of dependency — leaving out children who are merely “at risk.” In practice, you need to check your own region’s regulations for the exact procedure (Down21).

United Kingdom. Early intervention services (speech therapy, physiotherapy, Portage) are explained in the “Local Offer” that every local authority must publish and keep up to date — you can search for yours online. Referrals are usually made by a Health Visitor, paediatrician, or GP (DSA).

What can you do now? In the US, request the free evaluation from your state’s early intervention program — don’t wait to see a “big” delay. In Spain, contact your region’s social services and ask specifically about atención temprana and the dependency system. In the UK, look up your local authority’s “Local Offer” and ask your health visitor or paediatrician for a referral.

To go deeper. NDSS — Early Intervention (US) · Down21 — Early intervention rights (Spain) · DSA — Children, Families & Education (UK)