Under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), participating states and jurisdictions must provide services to children who are either experiencing developmental delays, or who have a diagnosed condition that carries with it a high risk of developmental delay. Eligibility criteria used by the states influence the numbers…

This document provides information on how internal or external facilitators can support early intervention teams in promoting meaningful change in their communities. The information presented is derived from a federally funded project that provided training and technical assistance to local early intervention interagency teams. The project's…

This document consists of a compilation of information on various aspects of the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1997 (IDEA). It collects a variety of resources that meet the information needs of state and jurisdictional Part C program staff, the…

This booklet is designed to assist families, child care providers, and advocates in planning and delivering child care for children with disabilities and special health care needs. The booklet defines the term inclusion and discusses common misconceptions about children with special needs and disabilities. It explains what the Americans with…

The materials in this resource packet present a variety of perspectives and information for individuals and organizations implementing inclusive programs for preschool children with disabilities. It is organized into three sections. Section 1 presents varied perspectives on inclusion of preschool-age children with disabilities in settings with…

This article discusses the importance of early intervention advocacy and provides vignettes that illustrate sample early intervention advocacy issues from the perspectives of parents, teachers, and program administrators. Quick tips are provided for professionals as self-advocates and for family advocacy, along with legislative Web site resources.…

The effects of disability, age grouping, and adult involvement on interactions of preschool children with disabilities (n=16) and children without disabilities (n=32) were studied in sessions of free play or adult involvement. Children with disabilities spent more time passively nonengaged. Even when controlling for developmental age, intergroup…

The East Coast Migrant Head Start Project, a federal grantee providing Head Start services to migrant families, has developed a continuity system to ensure that comprehensive service delivery occurs for each child and family enrolled. The system focuses on centralized and parent-held documentation, advocacy training for staff and parents, and…

Describes a statewide project in Connecticut that attempted to meet the training and support needs of childcare providers as they included greater numbers of children with disabilities into their programs. The Training for Inclusion Project emphasized family-centered practices, transdisciplinary team process delivery, and developmentally…

A study investigated why some of the low-income single caregivers of 104 children (ages 7-40 months) with disabilities were more involved in early intervention services than others. Difficulties in family functioning and lower levels of knowledge about child development were directly related to caregiver involvement. (Contains references.)…

This paper describes the experiences of three toddlers with developmental delays and their caregivers in an inclusive child care center. Case study methodology was used to synthesize data representing initial issues presented by parents, caregivers' reflections on their relationships with the toddlers, and interactions between toddlers with…

This collection of 18 papers on assessing infants and toddlers includes the views of parents, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. The following papers are included: (1) "Toward a New Vision for the Developmental Assessment of Infants and Young Children" (Stanley I. Greenspan and Samuel J. Meisels); (2) "Charting the Continuum…

This publication provides suggestions for day care workers providing care for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The guide is oriented around questions that providers may have in working with these children and families, and begins with a brief section entitled "What Do I Need to Know about Disabilities?" which…

Intended for use in Florida training programs for caregivers of infants and toddlers with disabilities, this guide presents an overview of the Model of Interdisciplinary Training for Children with Handicaps (MITCH); a user's guide to the series; and specific information for presenting Module 5, which focuses on the development of listening skills…

Case studies of three states were conducted to examine different approaches to the development of policies concerning early intervention, family support, and interagency provisions under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The study utilized a qualitative methodology aimed at discovering grounded theory (theory generated…