If a doctor, daycare, or friend has mentioned “early intervention” for your little one, they're almost certainly talking about TEIS — and for a lot of Tennessee families, it's the first door into therapy. Here's a plain-language look at what TEIS is, who it's for, and how it works alongside speech and occupational therapy.
What is TEIS?
TEIS stands for the Tennessee Early Intervention System. It's the state's free, federally-mandated early-intervention program (IDEA Part C), run by the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging, for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities. Services are provided at no cost to families, and they happen where your child already lives and plays — usually at home.
Who qualifies?
TEIS serves children from birth to age 3 (under 36 months). To qualify, a child generally needs to show a developmental delay or have a diagnosed condition with a high probability of delay. The important thing to know: eligibility is determined by the state through an evaluation — not by a clinic — and you don't need a diagnosis in hand to ask for that evaluation.
What does TEIS cover?
After the evaluation, families work with TEIS to build an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) — the roadmap of supports for your child. Depending on what that plan calls for, services can include speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and developmental or other supports.
TEIS decides who is eligible and which services go in the plan, and covered services vary from child to child. Think of TEIS as the program that opens the door — the specific therapies depend on your child's evaluation and IFSP.
How to get started
- Anyone can make a referral — a parent, pediatrician, or therapist.
- Refer through the TEIS online referral form, or call (800) 852-7157.
- TEIS completes an evaluation to determine eligibility.
- If eligible, your family builds an IFSP and services begin, at no cost.
What happens at age 3?
TEIS is a birth-to-3 program, so many families plan a transition around a child's third birthday — often to school-based services or to private therapy they continue on their own (sometimes through insurance or the Katie Beckett program). Tennessee has also added a TEIS Extended Option that lets some already-enrolled children keep early-intervention services longer; TEIS can explain whether it applies to your child.
How TEIS works with therapy at Midsouth Therapy Group
For speech-language and occupational therapy, we're glad to work with TEIS families across the Memphis metro — whether your child is currently in the program or aging out of it and continuing therapy with us. We'll help you understand how your child's plan fits with care here, and what the next step looks like.
Have questions about TEIS and therapy? Reach out and we'll walk you through it.