Telepractice--specifically, the use of high-speed internet and interactive videoconferencing technology to deliver real-time audio and video communications between the family and the practitioner--is gaining acceptance as an alternative means of providing family-centered early intervention to families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing.…

Assessing treatment integrity is essential to understanding how well school-based interventions are delivered. The assessment of treatment integrity is especially challenging for interventions that provide one-on-one peer support over the phone. To address this gap, we explored treatment integrity approaches used for the "Parent…

Assessing treatment integrity is essential to understanding how well school-based interventions are delivered. The assessment of treatment integrity is especially challenging for interventions that provide one-on-one peer support over the phone. To address this gap, we explored treatment integrity approaches used for the "Parent…

Public Law 99-457 extended the landmark Public Law 94-142 legislation to include early intervention for infants and toddlers with or at-risk for development of developmental disabilities. Currently over 300,000 infants and toddlers and their families in the United States receive services through Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities…

Background: Studies support the use of family-centred practices in service delivery to families where a parent has an intellectual disability. This paper examines the importance of such practices to parents. Materials and Methods: Interview responses from 32 parents with intellectual disability were coded by two independent raters as reflecting…

Parents of 36 autistic children were assessed on child functioning and family stress variables in relation to use of respite care services. Results suggest that parents with more difficult children need and use respite care more than others. Nonusers of respite care reported a higher perception of social support than users. (JDD)

The article discusses the conceptual and procedural mandates of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), required under Public Law 99-457, as both a bold radical step taken by the federal government and as a logical extension of current service delivery practices serving disabled children. (Author/DB)

Devoted to the second-year evaluation of the Parent-to-Parent Dissemination Project, this report describes the progress in the project's five sites: Dayton, Ohio; Ypsilanti, Michigan; the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont; Mankato, Minnesota; and Toledo, Ohio. Each site is described in terms of the number of families being served, the number of…

This response to Mahoney et al. (EC 623 392), although agreeing that parent education needs to be reemphasized, disagrees with the reasons offered for why parent education is not a more explicit focus of current early-intervention efforts. Alternative approaches, such as family-centered practices and family support, are described. A model that…

This response to Mahoney et al. (EC 623 392) agrees that parent education can be philosophically compatible with family-centered approaches and suggests a view of parent education as partnership education. After identifying the problems of traditional parent education, partnership education is discussed in terms of ecological perspectives, parents…

This paper describes an early intervention model demonstration project providing center- and home-based instruction to children with severe/profound handicaps, aged birth to three years, and their parents. The social reciprocity model used, participating children, daily activities, and evaluative findings are discussed. (Author/PB)

A study explored the orientation of 32 Finnish professionals in child neurological units toward child assessment and planning. Results indicate that practices were not implemented consistently and that professionals' varying perceptions of the concept of comprehensiveness and family involvement interfered with implementation of guidelines for…

This monograph represents the collective thinking of parents of children with special health needs, family members, and professionals concerning what is necessary and important in collaborative relationships. Collaboration is viewed as a way to improve quality of life and health of children and their families, by working together to humanize the…

Proposes a renewed focus on parent education in early intervention but urges the development of strategies that are consistent with contemporary family-service concepts, the provision of explicit instruction to service providers in parent education strategies, and research studies on short- and long-term effects of parent education. (Author/DB)

Discussion of problems faced by early interventionists in working with families offers practical guidelines for developing effective collaborations between early intervention programs and families. These include establishing family-centered services and rules for clinician/parent communication, encouraging the family to be a genuine coparticipant,…