This study attempted to ascertain commonalities and differences in critical program practices among nationally known, validated educational programs for young children with autistic spectrum disorders. Areas of agreement among programs included early intervention, individualization, specialized curriculum, family involvement, systematic…

The full-purpose partnership (FPP) schoolwide model primarily focuses on prevention and early intervention. This model brings the tenets of service coordination directly into the school and focuses efforts to involve families from a strengths perspective before behavioral issues become significant. A preliminary evaluation has shown that this…

This final report describes a project in Vermont which developed, implemented, evaluated, and disseminated a program development model for establishing new, and for improving existing, comprehensive early childhood special education services to young (birth to 5 years) children with disabilities and their families in rural settings. The model…

Describes a model of comprehensive individualized support for young children (ages 24 to 48 months) with severe developmental disabilities, including autism, based on a triad of essential elements: (1) development of functional communication skills; (2) supported participation in socially inclusive environments; and (3) multifaceted family…

This final report of the Portage Multi-State Outreach Project discusses the project's activities in assisting states, agencies, and local programs to plan, develop, and provide services for unserved and underserved young children with disabilities and their families across a variety of settings and program options. Specifically the project…

The Higher Education Faculty Institute was designed to increase the capacity of institutions of higher education to offer coursework, practicum, and specialty course sequences across personnel preparation programs for disciplines involved in early intervention. During the 3 years of the project, 38 higher education faculty were enrolled in…

This paper reflects on lessons learned from the implementation of KAN Focus, a demonstration project to develop a system of care for children with severe emotional disturbance in rural southeast Kansas. It notes trends toward providing more and younger children with community-based support services which provide family centered services,…

This overview examines underlying precepts and components of family support programs. The role of the family in a child's resistance to alcohol and other drug (AOD) abuse is discussed. Comprehensive prevention programs encompassing the family, school, and community have shown more promise in helping children avoid AOD abuse than programs that rely…

This text summarizes the state of knowledge in the field of early childhood integration of children with disabilities. The 14 chapters are grouped in sections which focus on relationships, curriculum planning, organizational supports, and values/attitudes, respectively. Chapters have the following titles and authors: "Ecological Perspectives on…