The topic of special education can be confusing and frightening for parents who suspect their child has a disability or has difficulty learning. Parents in this situation want to know how to get help for their child. This guide is intended as a reference for people who have questions about special education for a child. It summarizes the basic…

Research has shown that strong school-home partnerships are critical to the success of intervention efforts aimed at improving the developmental functioning of young children (Dunst & Dempsey, 2007). Accordingly, family-professional partnering has been a recommended practice in effective intervention delivery for young children with special needs…

Maryland's 24 school systems have made great strides in improving public education from pre-kindergarten through high school to ensure children are getting a high-quality education. This guide provides information and online links, including: (1) Maryland's state testing and reporting processes; (2) Programs available to support student…

By recognizing the importance of early transitions for young children with handicaps and viewing transition as a lifelong process, professionals can guide parents in developing skills that can be applied to subsequent transitions throughout the child's life. Described are steps in the transition process, parents' transition skills, and expected…

These home learning activity guides have been developed for parents to use with their 4-year-old children. Most of the activities require only household items that are often thrown away and can be recycled for learning activities. Some require no materials at all. The guides frequently begin with a discussion of home activities; progress through…

This book describes 21 toys that were designed to stimulate development in low birthweight babies, ages 0-3, and can be made from basic materials found in the home. Step-by-step instructions are given for each toy along with a list of necessary supplies. Illustrations and/or patterns are provided as needed. Each entry includes suggestions for…

Parents of visually impaired children are given suggestions for helping to make school a success. Guidelines begin with infancy and address topics related to the preschool period (such as providing special experiences and teaching social skills) and the school age period (such as taking part in the placement decision). (CL)

This resource book is intended to aid parents of children aged 2 to 5 years in teaching geography. The book offers ideas about how to encourage and give direction to enable young children to develop the vocabulary, awareness, and curiosity necessary to lay the foundation for the study of geography. Suggested activities are included and are…

There has recently been an explosion of interest and writing about autism, autism spectrum disorders, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). This issue of the "Early Childhood Bulletin" suggests readings for parents, therapists, and professionals serving on Interagency…

This guide reviews common questions that parents of children with disabilities have about joining a board or committee, and discusses the unique strengths and skills that parents of children with disabilities bring to the group. The first part focuses on deciding to join a board or committee. Reasons to join are presented, including having a…

The paper describes the 26-unit program called "Let's Be Social Home Program" intended to encourage parents to teach social skills to young handicapped children. The program was developed to supplement the "Let's Be Social" preschool program. The home program allows parents a choice in the amount and type of teaching activities…

New evidence shows the lifelong value of parents' involvement in their children's education. The article provides guidelines for parents, then details the lifelong benefits of parent involvement, highlighting the benefits at each educational level. Methods of promoting family-school partnerships are presented. (SM)

Information is provided for parents of handicapped children, aged 0-2 years, on the uniqueness of each infant's learning processes and the valuable role that parents and others can play in helping their infants with special needs to make the most of their abilities. The digest examines parents' concerns during the infant's hospital stay and early…

Aspects of communication between home and school are discussed in four chapters. Introductory remarks point out two very important messages in the research on the effects of parental involvement. The first is that the gap between working class and middle-class children in school achievement is explained, in substantial part, by certain differing…

Suggestions are offered for strengthening the basic speech, language, and communication skills of young children with hearing impairments, during ordinary periods of interaction at home. Suggestions focus on auditory training, speech drills, and reading, as well as formal and informal language instruction for all family members. (JDD)