Learning Resources
Required Resources
Course Text: Heward, W. L. (2009). Exceptional children: An introduction to special education.London: Pearson Education, Ltd.
Prologue, (pp. 2–4)
Chapter 1, “The Purpose and Promise of Special Education” (pp. 9–15, 18–19, 22–23)
Chapter 14, “Early Childhood Special Education” (pp. 535–563)
Web Site: The Guidance Center Inc.
“Early Childhood Services”
http://www.guidancectr.org/pages.asp?p=72&c=18
Optional Readings and Resources
Proven Benefits of Early Childhood Interventions
http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9145/index1.html
“Helping the Most Vulnerable Infants, Toddlers & Their families”
http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_669.html
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part C and Related Topics (overview of the Program for infants and Toddlers with Disabilities)
http://ideapartnership.org/topics-database/idea-2004/idea-2004-part-c.html
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child
The Science of Early Childhood Development: Closing the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do(PDF)
Content Review
Directions:
Respond to each item. Each response should be concise and 2- to 3-paragraphs in length.
Use MS Word to write your responses, and submit your answers to all three questions in oneWord document.
Copy and paste each question within the document, so that your Instructor can see which question you are responding to.
Define the meaning of early intervention and explain its importance for very young children and their families. Support your thinking about early invention with the outcomes identified by Congress in IDEA 2004.
Imagine you work with infants and/or toddlers. What are three ways IDEA 2004 would affect the children and families in your program? What does it mean that services for children up to age three take place in children’s “natural environment?” Now imagine you are working with preschoolers. What are three ways IDEA 2004 would affect the children and families in your program?
Diagnostic tests are given when screening tests have pinpointed that specific children may have developmental delays. Explain why and how these tests contribute valuable information to the early intervention process.