This study examined preferences for consultation models and styles among 67 professionals who worked in early intervention programs in Colorado. Participants preferred a collaborative approach involving shared responsibility across all stages of the consultation process and a directive style of sharing specific strategies to address the concerns…

Examines the conflicting views in the literature on the effects of prenatal exposure to drugs and reports on an early intervention project in a New York City agency. The rate of developmental delay was found to be virtually the same for children with and without prenatal exposure to drugs. (TJQ)

Explored premature, low-birth-weight infants' experience with early intervention at home and at day-care centers, and intervention effects on child and parental outcomes in the Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP). Number of contacts, number of activities per visit, and parental interest in activities influenced scores for IQ and Home…

This article presents a triadic interaction model that builds on and expands the strengths of the parent-infant dyad by providing contextual and interpersonal support for their interactions. The model gives explicit attention to the interactions among the three members of the early intervention triad: child, parent, and interventionist.…

Data relating to 2,768 children served by the SKI*HI model of early, home-based programming for children with hearing impairments revealed that SKI*HI children, on average, were identified by 18 months of age, had higher rates of language development during intervention than prior to intervention, and had greater language gains than expected based…

This study reviewed 14 research articles in early intervention that included measures of parent satisfaction. The review found that all studies reported high levels of satisfaction, but analysis was hampered by the research methodologies used. Suggestions for improving methodology and directions for future research are offered. (Author/JDD)

This paper describes the Oklahoma Statewide Training and Regional Support (STARS) program, a system of early intervention inservice training developed to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part H. Major challenges included identification of technical assistance needs, facilitation of training attendance, identification…

Identified the work-related problems perceived by public school prekindergarten teachers. Found 37 problems that occurred significantly more frequently than others. The global areas perceived to be of most concern included parent relationships; discipline; program requirements; student success; time; classroom personnel; affiliation; and…

This article reviews the literature on interdisciplinary approaches to training infant specialists and discusses the challenges of implementing such programs. The Interdisciplinary Infant Intervention Program at Temple University (Pennsylvania) is described as an example of how these challenges can be met. Challenges identified include…

A survey of eligibility determination systems used in 49 states and the District of Columbia to qualify preschool children under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act found that such systems were characterized by various categorical, combination, and noncategorical approaches. The learning disabilities category was particularly varied…

This article describes the Infant-Toddler Care Project in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which was developed to provide child care programs with on-site consultation that emphasizes aspects of quality care for all children and supports the inclusion of infants and toddlers with disabilities. An appended case study illustrates the project's approach…

This paper describes the process used by the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children for identifying recommended practices in early intervention/early childhood special education. Work groups in 14 areas identified practices that were then validated by a national sample of professionals and family members. Use of the…

This article defines three types of directives (follow-in, redirectives, and introductions); describes their various uses in early language intervention; presents two conceptual models for the role of directives in facilitating or inhibiting language development; and discusses issues concerning use of directives in intervention. (Author/SW)

Dynamic assessment is a psychoeducational approach well suited to assessments of infants and young children with sensory, motor, affective, and cultural differences not represented in norms of typical standardized instruments. Examines the potential utility of dynamic assessment for young American Indian/Alaska Native children and their families…

Preschool children with autism (n=9) and their normally developing peers (n=9) were compared before and after one school year. The autistic children had narrowed the gap after treatment--making a nearly 19-point increase in intelligence quotient and an 8-point gain in language quotient. Results support the value of a language enriched early…