Programs to identify young children with special learning needs should incorporate ongoing classroom observation and provide educationally relevant information rather than labels. The early identification procedure used in London (Ontario) for students in kindergarten through grade three uses a school program team to assist the classroom teacher…

Information about early intervention was disseminated via mass media and group meetings. Findings revealed that parents attending group meetings learned specific information about available services and legal educational rights. Mass media stimulated requests for information but did not measurably affect parents' knowledge of early intervention.…

Describes the role social service agencies can play in the early detection of potential handicaps in preschool children. (BD)

The article reviews the literature on the effectiveness of early stimulation programs to prevent intellectual or social retardation. It summarizes findings and recommends continued use and development of early stimulation as a primary prevention strategy. Also stressed is early identification of preschoolers with potential or apparent…

The KIK (Kentucky Individualized Kindergartens) project, a collaborative project between Kentucky's Department of Education and the Chapel Hill (NC) Training-Outreach project, is designed to serve high risk children. KIK provides early identification of high risk kindergarteners, development of individualized education programs, and implementation…

Childhood voice disorders require aggressive management that includes early identification, prevention, and treatment. This aggressive approach calls for re-examining incidence trends and norms; developing a better understanding of laryngologists' expectations; and developing programs for mass voice screening, prevention, and public and…

The article discusses autism in the birth to age two population in terms of early symptomatology and identification, early intervention as prevention, approaches to early assessment, and approaches to intervention. (DB)

Early Assessment for Exceptional Potential of Young Minority and/or Economically Disadvantaged Students is a project which used portfolio assessment to identify exceptional potential in primary-level children and develop instructional plans. The project determined universal identifiers of exceptional potential and taught teachers to recognize them…

Strabismus and amblyopia are two common childhood vision conditions requiring early identification and treatment. Screening devices include external examination of the eye, ability to track, a cover test, acuity tests, and stereoscopic tests. Treatment includes patching therapy, use of glasses, orthoptics, CAM vision stimulator, or a combination…

The Early Prevention of School Failure Program (EPSF) was initiated in Peotone, Illinois, in 1971. The stated purpose was to prevent school failure through early identification and remediation of developmental learning deficiencies in four- to six-year-old children. The project components were team screening, team conference, education planning,…

The status of early detection of handicaps in children as well as teacher/parent awareness and involvement in the intervention process are reported for nine countries as part of a 1978-1979 study conducted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Case studies and an overview of case-study findings are presented for…

The paper reviews current efforts in early identification and provision of services to the hearing impaired in Pakistan and discusses possible strategies over the next 10 years in rural areas which currently offer no services. Needs in the area of preschool identification and intervention are identified and include proper assessment, appropriate…

This article examines findings from a project to create and implement a model to assess exceptional potential in primary-level students. The article discusses the project's impact on the first cohort of 33 classroom teachers' attitudes and behaviors toward the identification of and programming for young minority and/or economically disadvantaged…

The relationships between emergent literacy skills and phonological awareness in preliterate children are examined, and a developmental model for facilitating literacy development is presented. Suggestions for enhancing metaphonological skills and a checklist for the early identification of young at-risk children are offered. (Author/DB)

California's K-6 Early Intervention Project was established in 1986 under the authority of California Assembly Bill 1535, Pilot Project on Hyperactivity, to provide a system of early identification and assistance to children in kindergarten through grade 6 whose behavior problems interfere with learning. This report contains evaluation findings…