Early intervention (EI) providers--who deliver Part C services under the purview of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for children birth-3 years old with/at risk of disabilities--play an important role in promoting the development of young children and their caregivers. Enhancing caregiver capacity to meet the developmental…

Serving families who live in rural communities can be a challenge for early intervention programs. Factors, such as travel, family needs, and limited program and community resources, have been identified as ongoing barriers for this population. Technology, specifically teleconferencing, can be a solution to provide equitable services compliant…

Consistent findings support how assistive technology (AT) can promote learning and development for young children by allowing them to more effectively participate in activities and routines in their natural environments. Yet the Office of Special Education Programs' annual reports to Congress between 1998 and 2002 indicated that AT was…

Assistive technology offers infants and toddlers with disabilities a set of tools to assist in achieving developmental goals while interacting with objects, materials, adults, and other children in their environment. This article focuses on assistive technology devices that can promote young children's participation in activities and routines in…

This paper reviews research studies involving the use of technological interventions for direct educational application with children (birth to age five) with disabilities. Studies are organized into two categories: (1) adapted switch toys; and (2) microcomputer software. Methodological problems limited the value of the findings, which were…

It frequently is suggested that parents underutilize assistive technology (AT) for their young children with disabilities despite wide spread recommended practices for providing optimal AT interventions (i.e., devices and services). However, neither parent perspectives of AT underutilization or families' experiences with AT have been reported in…

Research shows that assistive technology (AT) can help young children with disabilities to learn developmental skills. Its use may help infants and toddlers to improve in many areas: (1) social skills including sharing and taking turns; (2) communication skills; (3) attention span; (4) fine and gross motor skills; and (5) self confidence and…

Part C Updates is a compilation of information about the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The intent of the compilation is to collect, in a convenient format, a variety of resources that meet the information needs of state and jurisdictional…

This final report describes accomplishments and activities of the 3-year Activating Children Through Technology (ACTT) Outreach program at Western Illinois University, which focused on the integration of assistive technology into early childhood services for children (ages birth to 8) with disabilities. Objectives included: awareness activities;…

This article describes a university-based training model for early intervention personnel in rural areas of Utah. The model uses an array of distance technologies including interactive television, Internet communications, CD-ROM, videotape, and traditional print material. Key decision-making points and the process of model development and delivery…

The text of Public Law 99-457, the Education of the Handicapped Amendments (1986) is presented. Title I focuses on handicapped infants and toddlers with sections specifying: definitions, general authority, general eligibility, continuing eligibility, requirements for statewide system, the individualized family service plan, state applications and…

This book is designed to provide guidance on effective practices that are related to better outcomes for young children with disabilities, their families, and the personnel who serve them. Practices were identified through focus groups of stakeholders: practitioners, personnel trainers, researchers, administrators, and family members. These…

The 19th annual report to Congress on the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is organized around a model which views educational results as products of three sets of factors: the context and environment in which the education is provided, student characteristics, and school programs and services. Section 1, on…

Proceedings from this annual conference focused on the progress and potential of assistive and rehabilitation technology for individuals with disabilities and ways that RESNA members can make the ideas realizable. Presentations are provided on the following topics: (1) service delivery and public policy issues; (2) personal transportation; (3)…

This 23rd annual report to Congress on the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1997 (IDEA) discusses the progress of students with disabilities. It includes a number of modules reporting on the results of the National Assessment. Section 1 includes five modules that present statereported data on high school gradation…