The purpose of this article is to explore family-oriented partnership models to engage families of young children with disabilities in inclusive programmes. Family engagement is important for the education of children of all ages, but it is especially critical for the success of young children with disabilities in inclusive settings. However, the recognition that family engagement benefits children does not make clear how the engagement becomes a positive force or what factors act to determine the degree of benefit. In this article, discussions focus on family oriented partnership models as well as challenges and issues related to family-school-community partnerships, followed by cultural and social factors that influence family engagement in early education or intervention practices. Examples of successful family-school-community partnerships are illustrated.