The Early Intervention Program (EIP) serves families of children living in Maple Ridge and First Steps Program (1st Steps) serves families of children living in Pitt Meadows who have confirmed or suspected developmental delays or disorders until they enter school. These two programs provide the same services and are differentiated by location only. The programs are largely funded by the BC government. Services within the programs include:
Early Intervention and First Steps Program
Occupational Therapy
Occupation therapists help children with self-care skills (such as dressing, toileting, feeding, grooming), perceptual and sensory development; fine motor development; and play skills. They also help with the provision of adaptive equipment such as splints and specialized seating.
Physical Therapy
Physiotherapists help children with their mobility and gross motor skills. They work with children to assess and improve their strength, balance, and coordination when impacted by orthopedic and/or neurological conditions. Their goal is to enable a child to participate maximally in everyday activities and in recreation. Physiotherapists also obtain appropriate mobility equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs and adapted bicycles for children who need them.
Speech-Language Therapy
Speech-Language therapists/pathologists assess the communication abilities of infants and young children for receptive and expressive language, vocabulary, voice, articulation, phonology, resonance, and fluency. Appropriate intervention is then provided individually or in a group setting.
