Leadership factors of local interagency coordinating councils (as required under Public Law 99-457) providing services to families of young children with handicaps were examined with 33 council coordinators and members. Results indicated a distinct preference for leaders emphasizing a high task/high relationship leadership style and a need for…

This article discusses the newly enacted Public Law 99-457, which mandates preschool special education, in the historical context of the implementation of Public Law 94-142. Provisions of the new law are summarized, and a variety of issues (such as interagency coordination) that the field needs to address are discussed. (Author/DB)

The paper reviews factors affecting the success of handicapped infant intervention programs. The absence of political leadership and support at the federal level, caused by changing political and economic conditions, is discussed. The practical programmatic issues affecting infant intervention which are considered include setting, staffing,…

This information packet is designed to assist local interagency councils to implement Public Law 99-457's requirements concerning the provision of high quality services to preschool children with disabilities and their families. The model described provides a framework for continual coordination of agency programs as well as use of collaboration…

The transition of children between the two programs of Public Law 99-457, serving children aged birth through two and age three through five, can impact on state administration and local agency administration of the programs. Recommendations are provided for facilitating the family's and child's transition and ensuring continuity in services.…

Comments on an article by Dunst and Bruder. Service coordination was supposed to be one of the major jewels in the legislative crown for young children with disabilities and their families. The authors have cast their experienced eyes on the heart of the matter, which is the models of service coordination that sprang to life almost immediately…

In 1986, Congress passed Part H of P.L. 99-457 (the Education of the Handicapped Act) to address the educational, social, and health needs of handicapped and developmentally disabled infants and their families. Since this population's needs could not be addressed independently, each state was expected to develop collaborative organizational…

A work group convened by the Director of the U.S. Office of Maternal and Child Health examined the need and opportunity for a continuum of care to serve vulnerable populations of pregnant women and infants, and made recommendations for improving linkages among the various services needed by these mothers and their infants. Barriers to linkage…

The report describes Year 1 activities under Part H, the Infant and Toddler Program, of Public Law 99-457, the Education of the Handicapped Amendments of 1986. State contacts for the Part H Program were asked to respond to questions in several major areas including: Interagency Coordinating Council, the use of Part H funds, the status of states'…

The results of a survey of physicians actively involved at the state level in policy development for Part H of Public Law 99-457 are reported. A questionnaire was completed by a total of 125 physicians, including physicians identified as Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) members and physicians who served as state chapter representatives to…

Public Law 99-457 mandates collaboration among agencies serving special needs preschoolers. A statewide survey investigated interagency collaboration, studied factors related to successful collaboration, identified factors that inhibit collaboration, and determined training needs of early childhood service providers. (BC)

The report provides evaluation data (1986-87) for the Resource Access Project (RAP) network, a system to facilitate the delivery of handicap services in Head Start programs. The introduction provides background information on the network and summarizes changes in the network during this program year. Changes include budgetary cuts due to the…

The report of the House Committee on Education and Labor recommends passage of the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986, H.R. 5520. Contents include a discussion of the background and need for the legislation followed by an explanation of the proposed amendments, a section-by-section analysis, and the complete text. First, the bill…

Fifty states and five territories were surveyed to determine implementation of the federal Program for Infants and Toddlers with Handicaps, established through Public Law 99-457. Questions focused on the states' interagency coordinating councils, definitions of developmental delay, and activities related to the required minimal components of…

This study investigated viewpoints of 290 parents and 267 professionals concerning early intervention services for infants and young children with disabilities in the light of requirements of Public Law 99-457. Major concerns of both groups related to accessing services, developing Individualized Family Service Plans, and coordinating services.…