A collection of papers on the Australian experience with early intervention for children with disabilities gives regional overviews, describes specific intervention programs, and discusses a variety of issues. Overviews are given of early intervention in Australia in general, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. Topics of program descriptions include: the Down Syndrome program at Macquarie University; early education and integration for children with intellectual disabilities; hearing and hearing loss; visually impaired children; a New South Wales cerebral palsy program; the Autistic Association of New South Wales; early language intervention; communication camps; a University of Western Australia program; a rural community's child/parent support initiative; a rural distance education approach; a home-based teaching program; a program for urban migrant families; services in New South Wales preschools; and a toy library. Early intervention issues addressed separately include the working relationship between parents and professionals; teaching parents to be direct instructors and child advocates; integration of quality care and education; manual communication for hearing-impaired and autistic children; early special education teacher training; alternative and controversial treatments of Down Syndrome; evaluating early intervention programs; and the efficacy of early intervention with Down Syndrome. (MSE)