Based on research in infant sign language, this book teaches parents methods of communicating with their infants through the use of simple bodily movements that signify objects, events, and needs. Noting that communication between parent and child can flourish between 9 months and 30 months, when a baby's desire to communicate outstrips the…

This document is a transcript of a workshop intended to inform conference participants about the experiences of two schools, both members of the League of Schools Reaching Out, which sponsored the workshop. First, the director of the early education program for the Ferguson Florissant (Missouri) school district spoke about her program, which is…

This issue presents five articles on the theme of professional development of personnel serving infants and toddlers. The papers describe: experiences in the Training of Trainers Intensive Seminar and the City Training of Teams initiatives, an Illinois developmental training and support program, a Canadian 12-month training program, the use of…

Following a 5-year planning and development cycle, Illinois has completed its first year of full implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated system of early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers and their families under provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Among accomplishments noted…

This report on Colorado's efforts to develop early intervention services for infants and toddlers with special needs and their families begins with a planning matrix displaying the program's philosophical base, methods, and system components. The report points out that the statewide service system should be designed to ensure access for all…

This pamphlet for parents describes the important influences of music on the cognitive development of infants and toddlers under the age of three years. The pamphlet focuses on three aspects of music: (1) bonding with one's child through music; (2) learning through melodies and movement; and (3) the music-creativity connection. For each aspect,…

This document provides information on tasks, tips, and tools derived from a federally funded project that provided training and technical assistance to local early intervention interagency teams. The project's purpose was to facilitate the establishment of local collaborative teams to work on challenges associated with putting in place a long-term…

Describes Partnerships for Inclusion, a North Carolina statewide project providing technical assistance (TA) to communities as they develop and coordinate inclusive services for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities and their families. Outlines the model's development, the project's core services, strategies for promoting…

A statewide staff mentoring program was developed in Illinois as an option for providing a personalized, intensive approach to training early intervention personnel on a large scale. Evaluation results for the initial period of developing the process and for the first eight trainer-trainee dyads suggest this approach is individualized,…

Examines some of the basic issues involved in creating a warm and safe day-care environment for infants and toddlers, one that supports and promotes development and learning. Describing policies that were generated from everyday classroom experience, discusses the issues of security and trust, separation anxiety, group size, exploration and…

This article describes recommended practices for the development of family-centered Individualized Family Service Plans and provides a summary of recent research examining their use in Kansas as a component of program review. Suggestions of how speech-language pathologists can apply recommended practices are provided. (Contains references.)…

Discusses the transferring of Medicaid recipients to managed care in Oregon and the effects on physical therapy and occupational therapy services for children with disabilities. Describes a process that balances fiscally responsible utilization of therapy resources with advocacy for appropriate therapy services. Guidelines for services are…

This article describes the results of the VIISA Outreach Project, a well-received in-service training model for personnel who work with infants and young children with visual impairments, which has been in existence since 1991 in 23 states. The program combines home study with on-site courses taught by experienced instructors. (Contains 11…

Rituals of calming and soothing children toward sleep are an important part of life in any child care program, just as bedtime routines are basic to family life. This article discusses three nap-time rituals developed for infants and toddlers that incorporate comforting, familiar routines and objects, soothing music, and the reassuring presence of…

This article focuses on European early intervention for children with Down syndrome. Early intervention is viewed as a reconstruction of the construction processes in order to facilitate optimal response to environment conditions. It demands communication skills, a high level of transparency, theoretical education, and trust in the child's…