This book presents the theory and application of the Supportive Play Model (SPM), an intervention approach that incorporates best practices of the therapeutic, educational, and mental health fields. The model provides a systematic process for observing and understanding the play and development of young children with special needs and a decision-making structure for planning personalized intervention. The approach is based on the premise that play is the child's genetically determined and inherent means of learning. Part 1 begins with a chapter explaining the philosophical and historical underpinnings of the SPM. It presents a descriptive and instructional overview of the SPM process and the charting process and discusses issues related to placement of children with special needs. Part 2 contains four case studies that illustrate the developmental challenges of children with special needs and the application of the SPM to ameliorate these problems. Cases include a child with a moderate hearing impairment, a child with spina bifida, a child with moderate pervasive developmental disorder, and a child whose development is compromised by multiple risk factors. All the children are mainstreamed in early childhood settings. A glossary defines key terms. (Individual chapters contain references.) (DB)