People with disabilities and children with developmental disabilities have been marginalized throughout history, were not included in the activities of society and community but globalization has improved and advanced their rights. International and national legislation throughout history and today exist to raise the quality of life of persons with disabilities, as well as children with developmental disabilities, so that they can use all their rights and obligations. Different models of disability throughout history have defined the concept and understanding of disability, as well as the role of the social worker in the life of people with disabilities. The aim of this work is to show the historical development of early intervention, that is, early development support, which developed throughout history, in the world and in the Republic of Croatia, with the use of the acquired knowledge of certain experts who helped create early development support as we know it today. From the beginning, early development support aimed to apply the learned and acquired knowledge in practice by providing support to the family, informing about the progress of the early development support process and help from a social worker as a companion on this path. Children with various developmental disabilities require an individual and targeted approach, with the implementation of various expert knowledge from numerous disciplines that are important for the child's developmental path. Social work, as a profession, helps parents and the whole family in different spheres of family life, especially through providing support, information and counseling.