Examined the reasons parents read to their children using interviews from 25 Brisbane parents. Reasons given for reading aloud to their children were categorized under the following five main headings: pleasure for the child, functionality, good start at school, closeness, and quiet time. Concludes with a discussion of the practical implications…

This article presents an overview of personality disorders in adults and suggests strategies for early interventionists to use in interacting effectively with these families. Three vignettes of parents with personality disorders accessing the early intervention systems are provided to illustrate the challenges and suggested techniques of working…

This booklet, which is designed for Colorado families with children who have physical or mental disabilities or are at risk for such disabilities, outlines six support mechanisms for these families. The mechanisms include: (1) the early identification process, which is used to locate, evaluate, and identify eligible young children; (2) case…

Developed to help the home visitor build an effective home-based program for Head Start children and their families, this handbook is intended to serve as a blueprint for parent-focused home visits that assist the child and family to meet their full potential. The first chapter lays a foundation for the program that includes a home-based…

A Senate committee hearing received testimony on the educational needs of Native Hawaiian families and young children and on existing programs that serve them. Oral and written statements were presented by Senators, parents, teachers, school and program administrators, and organizations concerned with Native education and culture. These statements…

An approach to the diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorders is presented that considers the difficulties in relationships and communication secondary to sensory and motor processing deficits. These difficulties are conceptualized as Multisystem Developmental Disorder (MSDD), and case vignettes illustrate typical patterns of MSDD and…

This article discusses four solution-focused assumptions in providing early intervention services to children with speech-language disabilities and their families. These assumptions are: a polyocular perspective promotes successful family participation in treatment, a family's story contains resources for change, successful experiences promote…

Highlights qualitative studies from two preschools that view the framework of literacy use as socially constructed and embedded in social and cultural perspectives and practices of communities. Suggests ways to strengthen early-childhood programs, including greater use of writing and drawing materials readily available, additional orientation to…

Results are reported from a national validation survey of early childhood and early childhood special education professionals and family members related to guidelines for implementing accountability systems at the preschool level. Of the 47 statements included on the survey, 43 were validated by 75% or more of the 299 respondents. Specific…

A study examined the early literacy experiences of rural disabled children, ages 3-8. Data originated from a subset of the National Household Education Survey of 1995 that included 1,316 families with disabled children and 8,009 families with nondisabled children. Participants were asked about their race/ethnicity, education level, native…

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…

The "Guidelines for Effective Practice" series was begun in 1991 to meet the need for better definition and articulation of what constitutes best practice in family support programs. This guide, the first issue of the series, focuses on the importance and necessity of linkages between family support and early childhood programs. Chapter…

This final report describes the outcome of a program designed to affect the quality of early childhood special education services in participating states though the replication and dissemination of a validated Model for Early Childhood Special Education Program Development. The Model for Program Development (MPD) was designed to enable early…

This guide provides an understanding of the scope and purpose of educational services in Vermont for young children with handicaps and their families. Section titles are as follows, with chapter titles in parentheses: (1) "Overall Program Development" ("Programmatic Philosophy and Policies,""Planning and…

This final report describes activities and accomplishments of Project Ta-Kos Outreach, a 3-year program to provide consultation and site-specific training for families, educators, and health care providers. Project Ta-kos, through its curriculum and training approach, was designed to increase the probability that children, ages birth through eight…