Developmental Delay

Each year, Fraser works with hundreds of families affected by developmental delay. Fraser provides evaluation, direct services, information, and support for children, adults, and their families. Our programs are nationally recognized for their high quality and innovation, and our staff is skilled and caring. Perhaps the best way to understand how Fraser can help your family is to read our stories of success.

Definition

A term describing when a child is not reaching expected milestones.

Related Disorders

  • Borderline IQ
  • Developmental disability
  • Intellectual disability
  • Learning disability
  • Mental retardation

Evaluations

A family needing services related to a developmental delay would begin with an evaluation. Fraser provides evaluations for children known to have, or suspected of having, a developmental delay. These evaluations can provide a medical diagnosis, determine appropriate interventions, or monitor a child’s progress.

Neuropsychology evaluation — diagnostic evaluations for children and young adults who have neurological challenges or neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism, brain injury, attention deficit disorder or learning disabilities.

Mental health evaluations— standardized testing, play-based observations and parent interviews to enhance planning for school placement and programming, adoptive placements, and mental-health treatment.

Autism Evaluation— comprehensive interview, standardized testing and clinical observation to confirm a diagnosis of autism.

Direct Services

Occupational therapy— evaluations and treatment that improve children’s fine and gross motor skills, self-care, and sensory integration.

Physical therapy— play and functional activities that improve children’s mobility, motor development, posture, strength, range of motion, balance, and coordination.

Feeding programs— evaluation and treatment to help children manage or overcome common feeding difficulties.

Speech-language therapy— play and structured activities that improve children’s language and communication skills, articulation, social communication, eating and swallowing.

Autism Day Treatment Program— award-winning autism program that helps children develop skills to regulate their emotions and better control their behavior.

Autism Skills Training— services designed to improve specific skills important to a child’s daily-living activities and participation in the community.

Social Language Groups— small group settings designed to improve communication and social interaction skills for children with autism spectrum disorders or who demonstrate difficulty with social interactions.

Fast ForWord™— computer-based learning programs designed to improve language, reading, and overall communication skills.

Music therapy— play and structured activities using music that help children improve academic, social, emotional, communication and physical skills.

Personal Care Assistant (PCA) Program— personal care and nursing support services for children and adults with disabilities in the home and the community.

Waivered Services— in-home support services for children and adults with disabilities which help them to remain in their home.

Family Support

Family Focused Program— skill-building activities for parents of young children who need additional support to reduce the risk of abuse or neglect.

Child Care Consultation and Support Services— practical strategies for child care and school-age care providers to enable them to include and retain children with special needs and/or challenging behaviors in community child care programs.

Center-Based Respite Care Program— comprehensive respite services for parents of children with special needs.

Hennepin County Respite Services— short-term relief for the primary caregiver of young children with special needs (must reside in Hennepin County).

Flexible Case Management— services designed to help families access services and support, including an individualized assessment of family needs and assistance in communicating with other agencies.

Education

Infant, toddler, and preschool programs at Fraser School— inclusive child care and educational curriculum for children of all abilities.

Ready 4K Program at Fraser School— structured learning to prepare children for kindergarten.