Very Young Children with Special Needs

Vikki F. Howard began her career working with families with infants and toddlers in Eastern Ohio. Later she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Jamaica, serving families with very young children and school aged children with disabilities. As a professor at Gonzaga University, Dr. Howard collaborated with Dr. Williams to develop an ECSE program. She is author of many articles, chapters and funded grants associated with infants, toddlers and preschoolers with disabilities and their families. Currently, she teaches at the University of Montana Western where she directs the special education program and collaborates with tribal colleges in Montana to deliver special education pre-service education. Betty Fry Williams has over 30 years teaching in schools with very young children with disabilities and in higher education. She is professor of education at Whitworth University in Spokane Washington, where she chairs the Special Education program and teaches courses in early childhood special education. Her body of professional work reflect her interests in behavior analysis, methods of teaching infants, toddlers and preschoolers with disabilities and autism. Denielle Miller retired from public school teaching after 25 years of serving children with special needs. She taught students ages 3-21. Denielle received her BS and MA from Montana State University-Billings. She is currently working for Side-by-Side K-12 Consulting and for the Office of Public Instruction as a consultant for the Montana Behavior Initiative (MBI) and Response to Intervention (RTI). In addition, she provides professional development to Headstart teachers on several of Montana's Native American reservations. Denielle trains and assists schools in setting up school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports and creating literacy rich environments. She is an adjunct professor in the special education department at the U of M Western. Estee Aiken has worked in early childhood education for more than a decade across numerous states. She has spent the last five years educating pre-service teachers, predominantly in preparation for careers in the field of early childhood. In addition to her interest in the education of very young children, she also works with and conducts research with gifted children. Estee currently teaches in the Education Department at the University of Montana Western. 

Preface

Part 1  Foundations

Chapter 1 Philosophy of Early Education                                                                 

The Importance of an Attitude of Science     

What Is an Attitude of Science?    

The History of Disability Rights     

Individualization     

Inclusion     

Personalization     

What Is Meant by Personalization in Early Education and Intervention?     

The Implications of Personalization     

The Importance of Being Culturally Sensitive     

Population Trends     

Economics     

Family Composition     

Summary on Diversity     

The Importance of Serving Children in the Context of a Family    

What Is a Family?     

Empowerment     

The Importance of Working Collaboratively     

Close Up: The 2011 Annual Report of the Children’s Defense Fund

Teaming Models     

Collaboration in Early Intervention     

Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Relationship-Based Approaches

The Importance of Ethical Conduct and Advocacy    

Advocacy Issues     

How to Get Involved in Advocacy     

In Conclusion     

Study Guide Questions    

 

CHAPTER 2   Relationship-Based Teaming with Families                     

Close Up: Paraeducators in Special Education Programs

Relationship-Based Services to Families   

Facts Related to Understanding Families     

Parental Responses to the Diagnosis of a Disability     

Family Hardiness    

Barriers to Relationships     



Communication Between Parents and Professionals    

Active Listening     

Communicating Well     

Special Skills for Communicating with Parents at the Time of Diagnosis     

Conferencing with Parents     

Responses to Family Priorities     

Constraints and Conflicts     

Cultural Constraints     

Close Up: The Journey to Accepting Support



Formation of Collaborative Teams     

Teaming and IDEIA    

Responsibilities of Collaborative Teams     

In Conclusion     

Study Guide Questions    

 

Part 2  Human Development, Typical and Atypical

CHAPTER 3  Principles of Human Development                                       

Importance and Use of Knowledge of Human Development    

Prenatal Growth and Development     

Child Growth and Development     

Close Up: The Effect of War on Children in Iraq

Patterns of Growth     

Size     

Developmental Patterns    

Physical Growth     

Theories of Development     

Principles and Patterns of Development     

Infants Are Highly Competent Organisms     

Infants Are Socially Interactive     

Infants Are Active Learners    

Infant Development Is Multidimensional     

Developmental Sequencing Is Universal     

Skills Become More Specialized     

Plasticity Is a Phenomenon of Brain Development     

Critical Learning Periods Exist in Normal Development     

Infant Relationships Are the Key to Cognitive Development    

Children Undergo Several Transitions     

Individual Differences Exist Among Children     

Factors Influencing Development     

Family Structure     

Childcare     

Psychological Factors     

Education     

Culture     

Technology     

In Conclusion     

Study Guide Questions

    

CHAPTER 4   Human Development: Birth to Six                                         

Milestones of Development     

Motor Development     

Gross Motor Development     

Fine Motor Skills     

Language Development    

Language Form    

Morphological Development    

Language Content     

Language Use     

Factors Affecting Language Development     

Cognitive Development     

Theories of Cognition     

Social-Emotional Development     

Social Play     

Self-Help Development     

Independent Eating and Drinking Skills     

Dressing Skills     

Toileting Skills     

Personal Responsibility     

In Conclusion     

Study Guide Questions    

 

CHAPTER 5   Development and Risk During Prenatal, Natal, and Postnatal Stages                                                                                                    

Prenatal Growth and Development     

Effects of Prematurity on Body Systems     

Maternal Conditions Affecting Pregnancy Outcomes    

Preconceptual Maternal Conditions     

Prenatal Maternal Conditions     

Common Conditions of Gestation     

Maternal/Infant Natal Complications     

Prolapsed Cord/Entangled Cord     

Neonatal Conditions     

Hypoxic—Ischemic Perinatal Brain Injury    

Meconium Aspiration Syndrome     

Close Up: Why Does the United States Have Such a High Infant Mortality Rate?

Postnatal Conditions     

Prematurity     

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)     

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)     

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)    

Hyperbilirubinemia     

Neutral Thermoregulation     

Intraventricular Hemmorhage (IVH)     

Apnea of Prematurity     

Infections     

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)     

Anemia     

Nutrition     

Failure to Thrive     

Intervention for Infants Born Prematurely     

In Utero Toxins and Pregnancy Outcomes     

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome     

Prenatal Exposure to Drugs     

Implications for Infants and Children Prenatally Exposed to Drugs     

Chemical Toxic Exposure in Fetal Environment     

In Conclusion     

Study Guide Questions    

 

CHAPTER 6   Conditions Affecting the Neurological Function    

Diagnostic Tools     

X rays    

Computerized Axial Tomography     

Magnetic Resonance Imaging     

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy    

Functional Imaging     

Ultrasonography     

Electroencephalography     

Neurological Disabilities     

Cerebral Palsy     

Seizures     

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)     

Traumatic Brain Injury     

Close Up: The Promise of Stem Cell Research

Congenital Physical Malformations     

Neural Tube Defects     

Microcephaly     

Hydrocephalus     

In Conclusion     

Study Guide Questions   

 

CHAPTER 7   Inborn Variations of Development                                     

Genetics     

Cellular Activity of Genetics    

Single Gene Disorders     

Chromosome Disorders    

Multifactorial Disorders    

Prenatal Testing     

Gene Therapy    

Genetic Variations in Development     

Cystic Fibrosis     

Close Up: Designer Babies

Down Syndrome     

Fragile X Syndrome     

Muscular Dystrophy     

Phenylketonuria     

Sickle Cell Disease     

Turner Syndrome     

Syndromes with Unknown Causes     

Autism Spectrum Disorder    

Tourette Syndrome     

Physical Anomalies     

Congenital Heart Defects     

Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate     

In Conclusion     

Study Guide Questions    

 

CHAPTER 8   Sensory Impairments and Infections                                  

Hearing Impairments    

Hearing Process    

Hearing Loss     

Identification of Hearing Loss     

Developmental Implications and Resolutions     

Informing and Working with Parents     

Visual Impairments    

Visual Process     

Causes of Visual Impairment     

Close Up: Childhood Epidemics of the 21st Century

Developmental Implications and Resolutions     

Informing and Working with Parents     

Infections in Early Childhood     

Bacterial Infections     

Viral Infections     

Meningitis and Encephalitis     

In Conclusion     

Study Guide Questions   

 

Part 3  Educational Programs and Services

CHAPTER 9  Discretionary Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs                                                                                     

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act: Public Law 108-446     

IDEIA, Part C Regulations     

Family-Centered Early Intervention    

Service Coordination     

Interagency Services     

Eligible Children     

Developmental Delay

Procedural Safeguards     

Assessment     

IDEIA Guidelines for Assessment     

Eligibility Determination     

Program Planning     

Close Up: Randomized Trial of Intensive Early Intervention for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Family Assessment     

Individualized Family Service Plan ( IFSP) Development     

Selecting IFSP Family-Centered Outcomes

A Sample IFSP     

Effective Family-Centered Early Intervention     

Evidence-Based Practice     

In Conclusion     

Study Guide Questions    

 

CHAPTER 10   Mandated Services for Young Children   

A Change of Perspective     

Parent Rights and Responsibilities     

The Individualized Education Program     

Present Levels of Academic and Functional Performance    

Annual Goals and Short-Term Objectives     

Guidelines for Developing Good Objectives     

Special Education and Related Services     

Least Restrictive Environment     

Other Considerations     

Instructional Methods     

Experiences and Activities     

Generalization    

The Physical Environment     

Material Adaptations    

Data Collection and Evaluation     

Assistive Technology     

Close Up: The Changing Culture of Childhood: A Perfect Storm

Supplementary Aids and Services     

Challenging Behavior     

Creating Quality IEPS     

Best Practices in Preschool Intervention     

Successful Inclusion     

In Conclusion    

Study Guide Questions    

Glossary                                                                                                                                   

References

Author Index                                                                                                                                                            

Subject Index