Working with Families of Young Children with Special Needs

This user-friendly book presents research-based best practices for serving families of children with special needs from birth to age 6. Expert contributors demonstrate how early intervention and early childhood special education can effectively address a wide range of family concerns, which in turn optimizes children's development and learning. Tightly edited, the volume offers indispensable tools for assessing families; identifying and capitalizing on their strengths; providing information, support, and coaching; collaborating with parents and teachers to address children's functional needs in the context of everyday routines; and coordinating care. Over a dozen reproducible checklists and forms help professionals immediately implement the techniques and strategies described. The book will appeal to early childhood professionals, preschool special educators, social workers, clinical psychologists, and other professionals who provide early intervention services to children with disabilities and their families. It will also be a valuable text for graduate-level courses.

“"This is one of the first books to articulate clear procedures for planning, implementing, and evaluating family-centered early intervention services. Each chapter translates an abstract aspect of providing family support into concrete and well-defined steps for practitioners. A terrifically helpful resource, the book is loaded with useful examples, checklists, and 'how-tos' for respectful, supportive early intervention services." - Judith J. Carta,”

Institute for Life-Span Studies and Department of Special Education, University of Kansas, USA "Readers will find easy-to-understand descriptions of the most current practices for supporting families of young children with special needs. The influential authors also provide the theory and research foundations for the practices. Each chapter includes a checklist that guides readers to reflect on their use of the practice under discussion, which is a unique and valuable feature. This book will be highly useful for formal courses in early intervention as well as for professional development activities. I often find myself putting together packets of journal articles and handouts to provide solid information on this topic for students and workshop participants. I'm delighted to find a volume that has it all in one place!" - Susan R. Sandall, College of Education, University of Washington, USA "McWilliam has gathered extremely well-written contributions from the leading authorities in the field. The chapters in this excellent book provide the most current and authoritative content pertaining to families and young children with disabilities. The information is clear, useful, and definitive. This book would be a superb primary text for early childhood special education (ECSE) classes focusing on families, or a wonderful secondary text for ECSE courses in general. Students who learn from this book will be well prepared as professionals to serve families and organize programs of family support." - Glen Dunlap, Department of Child and Family Studies, University of South Florida, USA "This book is a 'must-have' for educators working with families and young children with disabilities, and should be considered the training manual for service coordinators in early intervention programs. Chapters from all the big names in early childhood present the key components of high-quality intervention. Real-world examples and family stories are provided throughout. The reader-friendly format includes definitions, examples, questions to ask families, and checklists. Take the time to read this informative, practical book and you will learn how to effectively engage families of young children." - Pamela S. Thomas, Coordinator of Early Intervention Services, Missouri First Steps Early Intervention Program, USA

Edited by R. A. McWilliam, PhD, Center for Child and Family Research, Siskin Children's Institute, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, USA

This user-friendly book presents research-based best practices for serving families of children with special needs from birth to age 6. Expert contributors demonstrate how early intervention and early childhood special education can effectively address a wide range of family concerns, which in turn optimizes children's development and learning. Tightly edited, the volume offers indispensable tools for assessing families; identifying and capitalizing on their strengths; providing information, support, and coaching; collaborating with parents and teachers to address children's functional needs in the context of everyday routines; and coordinating care. Over a dozen reproducible checklists and forms help professionals immediately implement the techniques and strategies described. The book will appeal to early childhood professionals, preschool special educators, social workers, clinical psychologists, and other professionals who provide early intervention services to children with disabilities and their families. It will also be a valuable text for graduate-level courses.

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