A new approach to early intervention for children | Essence Presley | TEDxThird Ward Salon

Is Our Early Intervention System Failing Children Who Need Support Most? is a compelling TED Talk by Dr. Essence Presley that challenges the way society responds to young children with developmental delays. Drawing from decades of experience in early childhood and special education, Dr. Presley exposes the growing gap between children who qualify for early intervention services and the limited workforce available to serve them. She argues that children are not simply "falling through the cracks"—they are being left behind by a system that cannot keep pace with increasing demand during the most critical years of brain development.

Rather than focusing solely on the problem, Dr. Presley presents an innovative, workforce-based solution that expands the circle of support beyond licensed specialists. She advocates for equipping parents, childcare providers, educators, and community members with foundational skills to recognize developmental delays and provide meaningful early support. Through practical examples and a call to rethink who can be trained to help, this talk inspires educators, policymakers, healthcare professionals, and families to build a stronger, more accessible early intervention system where every trained adult becomes another opportunity for a child to thrive. I am an experienced early childhood educator and advocate for children with developmental needs. My work focuses on transforming early childhood education by integrating a broader range of professionals into the field to support children and families earlier in their developmental journey. As the founder of a Career and Technical School and a pioneer of a Registered Apprenticeship program for Special Education Paraprofessionals, I have dedicated my career to improving educational outcomes for young children. My leadership in the Education Institute for Early Intervention has given me firsthand insights into effective programs, policy needs, and the importance of a community-based approach to child development. I am passionate about empowering communities to play a more active role in early intervention and advocating for systemic changes to better support children with developmental challenges. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx