We work with all children from birth to age 3 who are developmentally delayed or have a diagnosed condition that affects their health and development. LEAD is also a licensed three-star childcare center that offers stimulating developmental classrooms with age-appropriate curriculum for children age 6 weeks to 5 years.

The Memphis site is located within Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center and serves children in Shelby, Fayette and Tipton counties. The Jackson site serves many counties in west Tennessee, including parts of Madison, Haywood, Hardeman, Crockett, Gibson, Dyer and Lauderdale counties.

Services include developmental assessments, intake, special instruction, parent training, physical and occupational therapy, speech and oral motor therapy, assistive technology assessments, sensory integration therapy, transportation for special instruction, social services, early childhood education and preschool programs.

Children are served at home, in day care, in the community and in our centers. Referrals are accepted from physicians, health clinics, parents, family members, friends or anyone concerned about a child’s development.

Early intervention helps those children who show physical, mental, social, self-help or speech delays. Children with diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, down syndrome, prematurity, spina bifida, sensory impairments, various syndromes, hearing or vision impairments, failure to thrive, autism and other disorders are eligible for early-intervention services.

Each child and family is special and has different needs, different resources to meet those needs, and different goals for their child. LEAD works hand in hand with the family to set realistic goals for their child and outlines specific techniques, curriculum, integrated therapy services, special instruction and play-based learning to meet those needs. Parents are educated on their child’s diagnosis, and resource information is provided. LEAD works closely with schools, Head Starts, and childcare centers to help children continue