The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) reported 348,604 children received services in the United States under Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2009, representing 2.7% of the population (NECTAC, 2012). Early Intervention (EI), or Part C, is designed to provide services to families of…

Through an ethnographic study of one suburban elementary school, the delivery of services to English language learners (ELLs) with disabilities was investigated. The data analysis revealed that often disability-related and English as a Second Language (ESL) services were in contention, as scheduling, teacher expertise, school culture, and ESL…

Despite increasing demand for wellness approaches from disability advocates and consumer groups, they are not implemented routinely in childhood disability services. Interviews were conducted with 23 allied health therapists and managers working within four Australian childhood disability services. They described attempts to embed wellness…

Objectives: To explore perceptions related to increased utilization of group interventions as a part of the service reorganization within a pediatric rehabilitation program. Methods: Individual interviews with program administrators (n = 13) and focus groups with therapists (n = 19) and parents of children with disabilities (n = 5) were conducted.…

The author cites the incidence and types of dental diseases among disabled persons; discusses such contributing factors as low income and absence of comprehensive dental services; and describes a low-cost model interdisciplinary dental hygiene program involving special education, rehabilitation, and dentistry. (MC)

The manual suggests steps, procedures, best practices, and key concepts to create and maintain successful interagency collaboration in the delivery of services to preschool handicapped children. Considered are the concept of collaboration, the rationale for its development, and a means of assessing a community to determine the needs and potential…

The article examines the strengths and weaknesses of current special education practices and suggests alternatives that may facilitate the integration of special educators into the mainstream of education. (SB)

Centrality of relationships (the integration of relationship-based concepts at the program, family, and child levels) is proposed as an organizing principle for the field of early intervention with children having disabilities. The shift from developmental deficit-based models to relationship-based organizing principles requires reformulating…

This information sheet summarizes findings from two reports: "Staffing Patterns and Team Models in Infancy Programs" by Jeanette McCollum and Mary-alayne Hughes, and "Early Intervention Team Approaches: The Transdisciplinary Model" by Geneva Woodruff and Mary McGonigel. The digest outlines the provisions of the Education of the…

Models of collaboration among disciplines and among agencies have been developed in the early intervention field in response to the need for service coordination for young special needs children and their families. Case management is seen as a mechanism for effectively coordinating these services, and encompasses the tasks of assessing client…

The manual presents a process model for planning and implementing the Local Level Comprehensive System of Personnel Development as outlined in the Texas Education Agency Policies and Administrative Procedures for the Education of Handicapped Students. Part I provides a table of procedures and activities for the personnel training advisory group,…

The paper describes the competency based, field centered Illinois State University Dean's Grant Project designed to exemplify interdisciplinary efforts among university faculty, parents, school personnel, community agencies and organizations, and other child advocates as well as to upgrade regular teacher education so that all children can be…

This article describes transdisciplinary consultation, a classroom-based team model in which team members focus on implementing a transdisciplinary model of service delivery. An evaluation of the model by nine preschool professionals indicated the teams perceived the model to have a positive impact on their personal and team development. (Contains…

This study compared three team models (multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary) for the provision of special education services. Respondents (n=195) from 50 states provided data on team descriptions, team members' perceptions of teaming effectiveness, and team practices and theory. No one model was predominant, similar…

This brief (two page) official position statement of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children addresses the issue of early intervention for young (ages birth to 8) children with disabilities, developmental delays, or who are at-risk for future developmental problems. DEC supports identification and service…