Play is a central facilitating element of early development. As a child plays, he or she practices spontaneously cognitive, emotional, and motor abilities. This research project, part of a larger project on early intervention with young disabled children, investigated the play of children with a motor handicap. The sample consisted of 61 disabled…

Intended for use in Florida training programs for caregivers of infants and toddlers with disabilities, this guide presents an overview of the Model of Interdisciplinary Training for Children with Handicaps (MITCH); offers a user's guide to the series; and provides specific information for presenting Module 7, which focuses on ways of preventing…

A project developed a program for improving the attitudes of primary students toward reading and encouraging them to become strategic readers. The targeted population consisted of first-grade students in rural-suburban communities west of a large midwestern city. The problem of poor attitudes toward reading and lack of knowledge of reading…

This study examined the efficacy of early intervention with 38 children ages 5 to 10 with Down Syndrome. The study specifically looked at the influence on later school placement of three early intervention treatments during a child's first 5 years: (1) publicly provided programs (22 children); (2) privately provided programs (4 children); and (3)…

A case study gathered information about the environment of Reading Recovery, a one-on-one tutorial approach to helping first-graders who have problems learning to read, in an elementary school in an upper middle class suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Interviews were conducted with the five Reading Recovery students, their Reading Recovery teacher,…

In an attempt to provide a model of language intervention tailored to toddler needs, this poster session gives an overview of a playgroup program implemented by a speech-language pathologist and an early intervention specialist. The program's aim is to improve communicative abilities while maintaining the integrity of the child-caregiver…

This project recruited and provided preservice training for individuals from underrepresented groups who were interested in working in urban areas with young children with special needs and their families. The project was implemented within the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Exceptional Education program in collaboration with the…

This book presents the theory and application of the Supportive Play Model (SPM), an intervention approach that incorporates best practices of the therapeutic, educational, and mental health fields. The model provides a systematic process for observing and understanding the play and development of young children with special needs and a…

This paper describes a project to train service providers in replicating the Home Activity Program for Parents and Youngsters (HAPPY). HAPPY is a family-focused program developed to meet the educational needs of disabled children ages birth through 5 years in rural Nevada. Content of the training modules was developed from a review of literature…

This conference presentation begins with an outline of the assumptions involved in a theoretical model for the teaching of creatively gifted young children. The assumptions include: (1) creativity is continuous, not dichotomous; (2) creativity is a dynamic, interactive, and multidimensional process; (3) creativity may encompass intentionality but…

This study evaluated (1) whether the metalinguistic difficulties of younger children with language impairments are similar to those of older children and (2) whether there are any age differences in the ability of children to use encoding and retrieval strategies provided them. Fifty-two younger children (ages 5.0 to 8.9 years) and 88 older…

This literature review and bibliography of 35 references addresses child care and education of young (under age 6) children with disabilities. It utilizes a question-and-answer format, with relevant references cited in the answers. Questions address the following issues: (1) incidence of disabilities or delays in children under age 6; (2) features…

Federal legislation for infants and toddlers with handicapping conditions and their families (Part H of Public Law 99-457) calls for a statewide system of coordinated, comprehensive early intervention services. The legislation calls for an Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) to be appointed by the Governor of each state, to participate in the…

In-depth case studies were conducted in six states, concerning interagency service coordination in implementing Part H of Public Law 99-457, which calls for a comprehensive and coordinated system of service delivery to developmentally delayed infants and toddlers and their families. Major findings included: (1) states were unable to answer…

This report examines critical issues that rural educators face in establishing preschool programs. Even Start is a federal program designed to meet the educational needs of preschool children who have under-educated parents. In addition to participating in their child's education, the program requires parents to enroll in educational or vocational…