Seventy-five families of children with special needs were interviewed after one year's experience with early intervention services and 69 of these families were then re-interviewed a year later after two years of such services. Five themes were identified in the families' views of "what works well." These were: (1) consistency of staff, (2) home visits, (3) programs providing financial support, (4) professionals who support parents and respond to their needs, and (5) professionals who show parents how developmental play stimulates the child's development. Suggestions from parents for other parents and service providers stressed the following: parents need to fight for services and advocate for their child; parents should get involved in an early intervention program as soon as possible; parents want information; parents value support from and connection with other parents; and parents need to take care of themselves emotionally. Other findings indicated that parents experience a somewhat fragmented service system, which requires that they learn different rules for dealing with different subsystems (e.g., social services, education). (Contains 10 references.) (DB)