The digest presents the background and reasons for early intervention with children at risk for handicaps. Early intervention is defined, and three primary reasons for intervention are cited: (1) to enhance the child's development, (2) to provide support and assistance to the family, and (3) to maximize the child's and family's benefit to society.…

The reports document achievements of early intervention programs (EIPs) for handicapped infants and young children in Massachusetts. The first report focuses on Project Access V and on evaluation of four major evaluation outcomes: (1) statutory compliance and generic impact of P.L. 89-313 expenditures; (2) overall P.L. 89-313 grant management and…

The paper presents an evaluation design for measuring the effectiveness of special education programs for handicapped preschoolers. Reasons for not selecting traditional evaluation designs are noted, and the use of a "change-index" is supported instead. A value-added analysis was selected to determine the value added by the program beyond that…

Three themes from a 1985 conference on early childhood special education are reviewed: (1) the effort to improve lives of impaired children and their families is effective; (2) questions remain about research methods in efficacy studies; and (3) there are additional data supporting the logic of early intervention. (CL)

The study assessed the effectiveness of a publicity campaign to sensitize people to the needs and concerns of physically disabled people and to promote favorable attitude change. Results indicated that while the visability of the publicity campaign can be considered a modest success, the campaign was ineffective in promoting positive attitude…

Conducted a follow-up interview for 57 former vocational rehabilitation clients regarding factors bearing on their vocational success. Responses to questions regarding their perceptions of rehabilitation services, work-related problems, employer-hiring attitudes, and support of family and friends suggested 12 recommendations for enhancing the…

The development of effective community integration training programs for persons with severe handicaps is examined in terms of the human needs of severely disabled persons, the importance of comprehension and community-oriented training, emphasis on generalization, and consideration of individual preferences and interests. (CL)

A study skill training procedure involving a modified study, question, read, recite, and review technique was functionally related to improved storytelling for three intermediate-grade learning disabled students. (CL)

The article presents an example of an evaluation process for use with inservice programs, specifically Project TIME, Training for Individualized Mainstream Education. Evaluation data (from such measures as a classroom observation scale and participant feedback survey) shape the direction of the inservice. (CL)

The Foster Grandparent Program benefits the elderly, the handicapped individuals, and the service agencies involved. Grandparents participate in a variety of supervised activities (such as helping with field trips). The program's success may be attributed to a number of factors, including its cost effectiveness and the availability of retired…

The Proportional Change Index (PCI), a numerical statement of the relationship between children's rate of development during intervention with the rate of development at the time intervention began, is proposed as a way of expressing child progress from developmental data. (Author/CL)

In an in-service training model that utilized demonstration center training and follow-up to trainee's work site to train special education teachers in a data-based educational approach, 99 teachers acquired targeted information and skills during training and maintained the behaviors up to 28 weeks past training. (Author/CL)

An examination of methodologies of 24 follow-up studies of learning disabled persons, charts sample, IQ, treatment type, follow-up length, age at follow-up, dependent measures, and results. The importance of choice of outcome variables on conclusions is emphasized, and the inability to make inferences on treatment efficacy is ascribed to…

Ten areas of self-sufficiency were measured at four intervals for 26 students determined to be eligible for extended school year ESY programs. Regression increased and improvement decreased when educational programing was interrupted, and the opposite occurred when a ESY program was provided. (CL)