This review examines the variety of approaches taken to meeting the needs of young children (and their families) with disabilities in the South Pacific. The importance of diverse cultural patterns and problems of isolated communities are noted, as is the need to extend services until the entire population is served and ensure sustained services.…

This article reviews the legal issues raised when parents request that early intervention professionals implement Do Not Resuscitate orders for their young children with special health care needs. The article explores divergent viewpoints, recommends administrative procedures, and calls for open discussion of the issues and development of clear…

This article relates experiences and insights gained by a nurse educator directing the University of Utah College of Nursing's Utah Early Intervention Personnel Preparation project, a graduate-level interdisciplinary program to prepare early intervention specialists. Recommendations are offered for development of preservice or inservice…

The article reviews the literature regarding the psychopathology of truant behavior, the implications of truancy, and truancy interventions, suggesting that the effectiveness of truancy intervention could be increased by implementing a multimodal approach combining student, family, and school factors. (SM)

The best way to manage discipline problems in preschoolers with autism is to prevent the problems from occurring in the first place. The article examines the diagnosis, incidence, and prevalence of autism, discusses how to facilitate desired behavior, and offers a case study of a preschool student with autism. (SM)

Total communication is the simultaneous use of speech and manual signs. This article presents a literature review regarding language disabilities of children with Down's syndrome and a case study concerning the effectiveness of the use of total communication with an infant with Down's syndrome. (Author/BB)

This article proposes the professional integration of early childhood special education and early childhood education. Commonalities in the areas of policy, professional practice, and the importance of flexible child-centered and family-centered services are noted. Unification would improve service delivery, increase integration, and result in…

A project is described that applied electronic media to inservice training, support, and consultation of preschool special education personnel in geographically distant locations. The system permitted two-way, full-motion video as well as interactive audio communication and was extended into teachers' own classrooms for observation and training.…

Young children with low vision tend to experience delays in cognitive development, motor development, and social skills because of insufficient motivation and opportunities to explore their environments actively. This literature review explores the resulting difficulties in acquiring practical knowledge and spatial/environmental concepts,…

Describes a hospital-based Head Start center in Paterson, New Jersey, that exclusively serves children who have AIDS. The only such center in the state, it is a cooperative effort of the local Head Start program and hospital. For most of the students, it is the first opportunity to interact with their peers in a healthy, normal environment. (TJQ)

Paraprofessionals provided informal social support to 92 low-income parents during pregnancy and for a year afterward. Mother-infant interaction was better at four months in the home-visited families than in controls, especially with teen and Hispanic mothers. Positive and irritable or fearful mothers appeared to benefit more than passive or…

Discusses the Clinical Infant Development Program, an intervention project for mothers at extremely high risk of dysfunctional parent-infant interactions. A survey of services staff and clients showed that the staff found that provision of concrete services formed a bridge to abstract services, which the clients ranked as the most helpful…

A wellness program is a formalized approach to preventive health care that can positively affect employee lifestyle and reduce future health-care costs. Describes programs for health education, smoking cessation, early detection, employee assistance, and fitness, citing industry success figures. (eight references) (MLF)

The Regional Intervention Program supports 21 programs in 13 communities and is a community-based family-centered program in which parents of young children with behavioral disorders and/or developmental delays serve as primary therapists for their children, as principal trainers of other parents, and as daily operators of the service delivery…

Examines definitions of sexual abuse and primary prevention; considers the appropriateness and fairness of child abuse prevention programs in the light of child abuse theory and developmentally appropriate educational practices; and reviews the quality and effects of some programs. Suggests caregivers and educators consider greater parent and…