Reynolds and Wheldall reviewed research relating to Reading Recovery (RR) and concluded that "RR has provided an excellent model in demonstrating how to plan, promote, and implement an intervention across an educational system and how to design a professional development programme" (2007, p. 218). They balanced this praise with concerns about the…

This rejoinder to comments on the authors' article (EC 623 392) on a renewed emphasis on parent education in early intervention discusses the nature of parent education, the intended outcomes of parent education, professional training needs, and a research agenda. (DB)

This paper outlines a set of "best practice" criteria for designing and evaluating early intervention programs for special needs infants and toddlers, from an international perspective. The paper recommends that early intervention programs be based on six principal values: community coherence, cultural sensitivity, right to services, family…

This response to Mahoney et al. (EC 623 392) agrees that parent education should be an important component of early intervention programs and proposes that parent education be included in a relationship-focused early-intervention model. This model is illustrated, explained, and compared with the previous child-focused model and the current…

This article suggests the need to embed social skills intervention within the more general context of long-term early intervention efforts that promote all dimensions of developmental performance. Results from former clients of the LEAP program are discussed and demonstrate evidence of sustained growth and development over nearly two decades.…

This article discusses why the universal adoption of family-centered values and practice in early intervention is problematic in the context of the current state of early intervention. Recommendations are provided for the new millennium, including participatory research in family-centered early intervention and personnel preparation based on…

A rationale for and components of a development systems model are presented to guide early intervention programs. Core principles emphasizing a developmental framework, integration, and inclusion are expressed in the context of a multicomponent interactive system. The model's focus on maximizing family patterns of interaction by addressing…

After reviewing articles that discuss educational approaches for young children with autism, this article concludes that engagement is a critical feature, it is not clear that one approach is more effective than another, applied behavior analysis is a common foundation, and approaches may benefit from a more complete consideration of the family…

Responds to Gilliam et al.'s critique of evaluation of the Comprehensive Child Development Program (CCDP). Restates the policy implications of the study and comments on the design of the intervention and the evaluation. Concludes with remarks on how evaluation and research should be used to help low-income families. (Author/KB)

Clarifies details of research design and procedures in response to critiques of six longitudinal comparative studies from the Early Intervention Research Institute. The institute's investigations examined the effects and costs of early intervention for children with disabilities. (BB)