Discusses critical factors complicating efforts to assure quality of in-home care for people with chronic disabilities: client and provider characteristics, fiscal restraints, inadequate regulation, lack of quality assurance methods, and lack of coherent social policy for long-term care. Identifies three areas of policy to be addressed if efforts…

Describes a program for physically challenged students at Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York that allows students majoring in business to be placed with selected employers and to obtain real work experience. The areas of employment were related to the skills and career objectives of the students, who remained at…

Parents of 25 infants/toddlers with handicaps were surveyed to gain perspectives on easing the transition from home-based infant programs to preschool programs. Analysis of the results led to 4 major recommendations and a series of steps that infant program staff can follow to facilitate transition to preschool program options. (JDD)

Describes a successful program for teaching preschool handicapped children new skills in their own homes by making their parents more effective teachers. The service delivery model and program design are detailed, and a summary of conference presentations on the Portage Model is included. (DT)

This article refutes 10 myths and identifies literature that supports service delivery to infants and toddlers with disabilities in natural settings. The benefits of naturalistic intervention, home-based services, and family-centered services are discussed, and concerns regarding therapist shortages, ethical problems, personal safety of providers,…

This article examines issues related to treatment acceptability in early intervention programs, by applying concepts pertaining to collaboration, cultural difference, compliance and freedom of choice, family life cycles, and systems theory. A paradigm for designing home-based intervention plans with families of preschoolers with behavior disorders…

This article proposes that combining home visits with service coordination could be an effective method of determining what services are needed by families of young children with disabilities and at the same time providing intervention in the home setting. Competencies needed for this dual position of service coordinator and home visitor are…

This paper lists practices recommended by the Council for Exceptional Children's Division for Early Childhood concerning service delivery models in early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) programs for infants and young children with special needs and their families. An introductory section discusses five principles that…

Though personnel preparation programs for interventionists working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers focus on the same competencies, there is content which is unique to teaching the infant or toddler in the home and teaching a preschooler in the classroom. Content is suggested for training early interventionists to deliver services to…

Federal legislation and programs affecting personal assistance services for persons with disabilities are examined. Personal assistance services may be provided for activities of daily living, communication, cognitive tasks, or mobility, depending on the needs of the individual. The population in need of attendant services has increased with…