Family engagement is a central ideology in pediatric occupational therapy; however, the literature indicates that engaging families is challenging in the school- based context. The purpose of this study is to explore occupational therapists' and families' experiences of family engagement in school-based occupational therapy services and to propose…

Effective early childhood intervention (ECI) relies on collaboration among agencies, service providers, and families. Although previous literature has primarily focused on segments of collaboration within ECI service delivery, the actual process and how the adult stakeholders perceive and engage in collaborative practice have important…

The context of Special Education is a privileged space to study participation. Most professionals and teachers have long assumed the participation and collaboration with families as a central tenet of their interventions. On the other hand, parents with children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) have also been described as being permanently…

Family-centered service is a service delivery model that recognizes the central role of families, builds on their strengths, and seeks to fully involve them in all aspects of their child's health, learning, and development. Family-centered service has been associated with positive outcomes in health and education and has been viewed as best…

Research and clinical experience both indicate that parents are excellent observers of communication in their children who rely on augmentative and alternative communication. However, parents and professionals may find themselves in conflict about how to interpret and support children's communication. This article outlines strategies for…

This article begins by defining family-centeredness and then reviews and integrates available evidence about family-centered practices in early intervention, preschool, and elementary and secondary schools. For each educational level, findings from studies that investigated program models, practitioner behaviors, family-oriented practices rating…

This report presents preliminary findings concerning early intervention services, based on data from in-depth interviews with 75 families with infants, toddlers, or preschool children receiving early intervention special services. Additional data included reviews of Individualized Family Service Plans and Individualized Education Programs,…

This paper synthesizes innovative practices and ideas for explaining to families the procedural safeguards required by the Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities Program (Part H) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). An introductory discussion stresses that the primary safeguard provided for in Part H is the clear…

This book provides an introduction to early intervention programs, focusing on programs that reflect a transactional model of family-centered services employing collaborative and interdisciplinary techniques. Chapter 1 presents the historical context of early intervention services. Chapter 2 defines the various disabilities and risk conditions.…

Background: This applied dissertation was designed to increase the awareness of a parent resource center located in an urban community. The center had been in existence for 10 years. Due to a massive urban renewal project, the original residents were relocated to other areas of the city. When the replacement housing was constructed, a different,…