What does it cost to provide early intervention services? Data collected as part of the National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study were used to determine expenditures for infants, toddlers, and their families receiving services through Part C programs. The study found that the national average total expenditure for early intervention services…

Early behavioral intervention (BI), based on the methods of applied behavior analysis, has the strongest and most consistent scientific support as a means of teaching skills to young children with autism spectrum disorder and reducing their restricted and maladaptive behavior. Although individual applied behavior analysis (ABA)-based treatment…

This study was designed to investigate the differences between the home environments of children with and without disabilities in relation to certain child and family variables. The participants were mothers of children (aged 0-72 months) with and without disabilities living in Ankara, Turkey. The Home Screening Questionnaire was used to gather…

This article reviews the literature on the transdisciplinary approach to early intervention services and identifies the essential elements of this approach. A practice model describing the implementation of the approach is then presented, based on the experiences of staff members in a home visiting program for infants that has been in existence…

Inclusion is a federal and state mandate, making it critical that early childhood teachers have adequate preparation in their preservice program for serving young children with disabilities. One of the challenges states face in increasing the availability of high-quality inclusive programs is ensuring adequate numbers of confident, competent…

Using data from the National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study, this study provides a framework for characterizing the delivery of early intervention services based on the combinations of service providers who work with infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Five groups of providers were identified. Results showed that the…

Principal tasks of the early childhood years, including attaining self-efficacy, self-control, social integration, and preparedness for education, require the development of adaptive and competent emotional development. Results from longitudinal and intergenerational studies examining the effect of parenting behaviors on children's emotional…

The provision of choice making is frequently cited as an indicator of developmentally appropriate practice for young children with and without disabilities; however, there is little empirical evidence regarding the rate of delivery of choices within the preschool classroom. The delivery of intervention strategies by a classroom-based…

This article identifies characteristics and challenges encountered by families that include young children with autism. Emphasis is on three issues in providing needed support services: (1) enhancing family competence and confidence; (2) addressing support from a lifestyle perspective; and (3) arranging for stability and continuity in support…

Various issues related to positioning infants and children with central nervous system dysfunction in order to conduct videofluoroscopic swallowing function studies are discussed. Extensive illustrations demonstrate solutions to specific problems. (DB)

The Checklist for Autism in Young Children, comprising 30 symptoms, was administered to 143 children with autism. The children had an average of 23 (77 percent) of the listed symptoms. Percentages of children exhibiting each checklist symptom and other data were compared with diagnostic criteria reported in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual…

This paper on autism in young children discusses the differences between classic infantile autism and autistic-like conditions; the evolving manifestations of autism; accompanying handicaps such as mental retardation, epilepsy, blindness, and deafness; possible infectious or metabolic disease etiologies; and treatment through behavior…

This review defines service integration in early intervention with young children with disabilities and synthesizes the interpersonal and structural factors that determine its success as documented in the early intervention literature. A table summarizes results of 17 studies on factors that determine or impede successful service integration. The…

This article on pediatric physical therapy first offers a historical perspective and then looks at the scope of clinical practice in the field, the field's scientific basis, and its theoretical foundations. (Author/DB)

Describes the early-intervention program experiences and perceptions of parents of children with disabilities. Discusses the perceived inability of service providers to discuss frankly the fiscal or staffing barriers to services and the emphasis on transdisciplinary teams over a family-centered philosophy. Provides recommendations for increased…