SpectrumBeaconYour developmental concerns deserve a next step.
Contact your child’s clinician about your concerns. In Florida, you can also request an Early Steps evaluation for a child under 3 without a doctor’s referral or an autism diagnosis. Below are words you can use at the appointment and the public referral route.
You can raise concerns now
If you are concerned about your child's development, contact your child's doctor promptly. Tell them about any words or other skills your child has lost. Ask about screening and whether an evaluation is needed. You do not need to finish the M-CHAT before making that call.
VerifiedSource: CDC, 18-month milestones and acting on concerns · How we verify
CDC guidance on clinician and public evaluation routes. Concern guidance and evaluation timelines checked September 12, 2026. Other facts retain their own dates.
Plan the next step before age 3
You can contact Early Steps about a developmental concern without waiting for a diagnosis.
Early Steps and transition planning
Early Steps generally serves children from birth until age 3. Before the third birthday, ask your service coordinator about transition planning and which preschool or other services may be available next.
VerifiedSource: Florida Early Steps parent handbook · How we verify
Screening is the routine, recommended step
The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend screening every child for autism at the 18-month and 24-month well-child visits, whether or not anyone is worried. Acting on a developmental concern by seeking a screening or evaluation follows this guidance rather than departing from it.
VerifiedSource: CDC and AAP developmental screening guidance · How we verify
The script: what to say at the appointment
You do not have to argue. You just have to be specific and ask for one thing in writing. Say what you have seen, name the timeline, and ask for a referral or a screening on the record. Here is the word-for-word version.
“I have been noticing [what you have seen: not pointing, not responding to their name, losing words they used to say] since [when]. Which screening or evaluation fits my child’s age and these concerns? Please note my concerns and your recommendation in the chart.”
If the answer is that it is probably nothing: “I hear you, and I would still like it documented that I raised this concern today and asked for a screening, along with your recommendation. Which screening or evaluation fits my child’s age and the concerns I described?”
Asking for it in the chart is not about conflict. It creates a dated record of your concern, which helps if you need an evaluation. If an age-appropriate screening is available, you can bring its result. You do not need to complete the M-CHAT before the visit or delay contacting the clinician to do it.
If the answer is still “let's wait”: the self-referral number
Here is the part that changes everything: the free evaluation does not depend on the pediatrician agreeing with you. In Florida you can pick up the phone and refer your own child. No physician referral. No diagnosis. Ask the program to confirm when it receives your referral and which steps apply.
The usual Part C timeline
The usual Part C timeline is 45 calendar days from receipt of the referral. It covers any screening, required evaluation and assessments, and the first Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting for an eligible child. Documented exceptional family circumstances or missing parental consent despite repeated documented attempts can affect this timeline. Ask Early Steps to confirm receipt and explain any delay.
VerifiedSource: IDEA, 34 CFR 303.310 · How we verify
When a referral arrives fewer than 45 days before the third birthday and the child may qualify for preschool special education, the lead agency refers the child to the state and local education agencies with parental consent. In that situation, Part C is not required to complete the initial evaluation, assessments or IFSP meeting. Ask Early Steps which route applies. IDEA transition rule.
Find your local Early Steps office and the referral line through the state program page above, or start from the Florida page, where the Early Steps step is laid out in full.
What to write down before you call
The call goes faster when you have the basics ready. You do not need medical language. Plain notes are enough.
- Your child's full name and date of birth, and your phone number and address.
- What you have noticed, in your own words, and roughly since when.
- Tell the clinician about any words or other skills your child stopped using, and when you noticed the change.
- Your pediatrician's name, and the M-CHAT score if you took it.
CDC, 18-month milestones and acting on concerns. Checked September 12, 2026.
If you are outside Florida
Every state has an early intervention program for children under 3 under IDEA Part C. Public early intervention evaluations are free; service costs can vary by state. Contact your state's program about referral and any costs. From age 3, contact the school district.
Every state has an early intervention program for children under 3 under IDEA Part C. Public early intervention evaluations are free; service costs can vary by state. Contact your state's program about referral and any costs. From age 3, contact the school district.
VerifiedSource: IDEA Part C family fees and protections, 34 CFR 303.521 · How we verify
Common questions
Can I refer my own child to Early Steps without a doctor?
Yes. In Florida a family can refer their own child directly. No physician referral and no diagnosis are required. Early Steps serves children from birth to 36 months, and it is free.
Florida Early Steps policy handbook. Verified .
When should I worry that my toddler isn't talking?
If you are concerned about your child's development, contact your child's doctor promptly. Tell them about any words or other skills your child has lost. Ask about screening and whether an evaluation is needed. You do not need to finish the M-CHAT before making that call.
CDC developmental concerns. Checked .
How long does Early Steps take to evaluate my child?
The usual Part C timeline is 45 calendar days from receipt of the referral. It covers any screening, required evaluation and assessments, and the first Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting for an eligible child. Documented exceptional family circumstances or missing parental consent despite repeated documented attempts can affect this timeline. Ask Early Steps to confirm receipt and explain any delay.
IDEA Part C timeline. Checked .
What if I am not in Florida?
Every state has an early intervention program for children under 3 under IDEA Part C. Public early intervention evaluations are free; service costs can vary by state. Contact your state's program about referral and any costs. From age 3, contact the school district.
IDEA Part C family costs. Checked .