The handbook was developed by the staff of the Volunteers in Partnership with Parents Project (VIPP) and is intended for volunteers in the VIPP program in which people are trained to offer support and caregiving assistance to parents of young handicapped children. The partner's roles and responsibilities with parents are listed as well as those…

Four papers focus on the processes involved in developing a community team for providng services to handicapped preschoolers. Jerry Elder and Elynor Kazuk review steps in beginning a community team approach in "Getting Started," including the mechanics of planning and conducting an initial meeting to explain the advantages of collaborative…

This report provides a description of federal education programs for children with disabilities and the important needs that are met by funding each one. It considers the budgetary impact on each program if Congress appropriates the funding level recommended for Fiscal Year (FY) 1995 and funding recommendations of the Council for Exceptional…

This manual aims to help communities develop a plan to improve services to children from birth to 3 years of age who are chronically ill or disabled, and their families. Section I provides background information needed to begin a Community Approach to an Integrated Service System (CAISS) committee in a community. It addresses the issue that…

This manual provides a practical approach to effectively using volunteers in Head Start programs. It can be used as a training tool, a "ready" reference for often-needed information, and a source of simple, easily duplicated charts and forms. Topics discussed and/or illustrated include (1) components of a successful volunteer program;…

These two newsletter issues focus on training strategies for developing more inclusive programs for children with disabilities and for developing collaborative programs. An interview with Dr. Barbara Wolfe addresses successful inservice teacher training strategies. Additional information in the first issue includes guidelines for empowering…

This manual provides detailed, step-by-step information on developing and writing an interagency agreement to facilitate the transition of young (age 3) children with disabilities from early intervention programs into preschool educational services under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Worksheets are provided throughout…

The Delaware FIRST Program is designed to meet the needs of handicapped infants and toddlers through trained family day care providers. The program is based on a developmental family systems approach. It strives to provide families with ongoing support by offering mainstreamed family day care or respite care, by developing and/or facilitating an…

This set of 10 resource inventories provides listings of information and service resources organized by state or by subtopic. Listings typically include name, address, phone, and a contact person. The first inventory lists the 39 Alliance for Technology Access Centers which are community-based resources providing specific areas of expertise for…

This book is a resource and activity guide for early childhood educators and care providers that helps to enhance the development of early and emerging literacy skills in young children. Its philosophy is based on the premise that both language and literacy development begin at birth and that educators and caretakers of young children have a…

This set of effectiveness indicators is intended to assist Colorado communities and agencies to evaluate themselves regarding processes for the identification of young children (birth to age 5) with disabilities. First, a statement of values stresses proactivity, family empowerment, and outcome orientation. Specific effectiveness indicators are…

This guide presents low tech solutions that have worked for some people with disabilities or their parents. Twenty-one ideas are offered to give children with physical disabilities more opportunities for play and art. Examples include recycling stuffed animals into puppets, punching a hole in top of playing cards to accommodate a mouth stick, and…

This compilation on assistive technology devices and services aims to improve understanding of funding streams and creative ways to eliminate funding barriers in Medicaid, special education, and vocational rehabilitation. The first part comprises a workbook titled "A Road Map to Funding Sources." It assists in creating a systematic…

This resource guide presents general information about disabilities and summaries of relevant federal laws. A question-and-answer format is used to highlight key features of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public Law 94-142, reauthorized in 1990 as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act); Section 504 of the Rehabilitation…

This article describes development of a collaboration between early intervention service providers and children's librarians to address parental needs for information, referral, and support; provision of inclusion and socialization opportunities for infants and toddlers in local community libraries; and strategies for delivering early intervention…