Education Commons^™

Eds 702: The Young Child With Special Needs, Lingyu Li

Open Educational Resources

This introductory course addresses the concept of disability and the field of special education. It will also consider the social, cultural, and economic context surrounding the education of young children (birth to 8 years) with a wide range of developmental delays and disability conditions. Pertinent legislation, intervention with families, developing Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs), Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and issues of advocacy will be studied within the context of the continuum of service delivery (home-based, center-based, and school-based interventions). (15 fieldwork hours required.)

The Signed Linguistic Input Of Hearing Mothers To Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Aleah S. Brock

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This study investigated the distribution of ten facilitative language techniques (FLTs) in the linguistic input of hearing, signing mothers to their children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Four hearing mothers and their DHH children under the age of three participated in six, ten-minute caregiver-child interaction sessions via Zoom. The recorded sessions were coded for mother FLTs and child utterances. Results indicated that the mothers tended to use more initiative than responsive types of FLTs, consistent with findings of previous studies that examined the input of mothers who were using spoken-only language with their children who are DHH. …

Parent And Provider Perspectives On Early Intervention In Ohio: A Community Collaborative Approach, Jessa Reed, Ursula M. Findlen, Carrie Davenport, Cheryl Deconde Johnson, Maria Sentelik, Carrie Spangler, Wendy Steuerwald, Derek Houston

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The network of early intervention (EI) for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) consists of multiple professionals that partner with parents. As part of a community collaborative initiative, diverse perspectives were gathered via online surveys as part of a state-wide needs assessment to evaluate the landscape of EI in Ohio. The qualitative and quantitative feedback were analyzed in light of the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing’s (2007) goals and the 2013 early intervention supplement to those goals. Care coordination and equitable access emerged as top priorities across all three stakeholder groups queried (audiologists, EI providers, …

Re-Examining State Part C Early Intervention Program Coordinators’ Practices Through A Positive Lens On Leadership: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis, Sarika S. Gupta, Victoria Sherif, Xiaohan Zhu

The Qualitative Report

Part C early intervention is a program administered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) that provides services to eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Part C coordinators oversee the program in states. This article presents an examination of state Part C program coordinators’ leadership practices. We conducted a qualitative secondary analysis to explore the practices that Part C program coordinators described using in a prior study on the processes, barriers, and solutions during a systems change. The present study used two new theoretical frameworks – organizational drivers for systems change and a strengths-based orientation – …

Early Intervention Speech-Language Pathologists’ Knowledge, Beliefs, And Practices Surrounding Culturally And Linguistically Responsive Assessment Practices For Dual Language Learners, Rebecca Lynne Jarzynski

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Early intervention (EI) speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are required to provide culturally and linguistically responsive assessments for dual language learners (DLLs) within an increasingly diverse population. Previous research has documented gaps between SLPs’ beliefs related to assessments for DLLs and their implementation of best practices within school-based and pediatric outpatient settings. The purpose of this present research study was to better understand the current knowledge, beliefs, and practices of EI SLPs in relation to the use of culturally and linguistically responsive assessment practices within the context of EI programs. A total of 134 EI SLPs completed a nationwide survey in which …

The Effects Of Early Identification And Intervention On Reading Scores At The Kindergarten Level, Cara Milby

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that reading fluently is the key to success: academically, economically, socially, as well as to a healthier lifestyle (Forrest, 2018; Wanzek et al., 2018). While research has shown that Response to Intervention (RTI) is a positive instructional program that will increase primary students’ academic abilities at grades 1 and 2 (Richards et al., 2007), there is a need for more research regarding RTI with kindergarten students. This quasi-experimental quantitative research study examined if early identification and intensive intervention through the addition of Response to Intervention (RTI) at the kindergarten level will lead to increased reading scores and better …

An Assessment Of 50 State Early Hearing Detection And Intervention Websites: Is Needed Information Being Provided For Parent Decision Making?, Nichole Westin, Donna Sorkin

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Growth of the Internet as an information resource has provided expanded opportunities for families to easily gather information on a range of topics, including health related topics. State Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) websites and other electronic data sources are an important opportunity to support families seeking information on options for their children who have been identified as deaf or hard of hearing. A review was undertaken between August and September 2021 of the 51 US EHDI (state and DC) websites and related information (such as links to others’ sites) to determine if information that is specifcally discussed in …

Attending To Attention: A Systematic Review Of Attention And Reading, Sarah M.R. Eisensmith, Premela G. Deck, Melissa R. Jenkins, April Harris Britt, Kirsten Kainz, David Ansong

International Journal of School Social Work

Background: Extensive research has conclusively linked inattention to poor reading performance. The process by which this relation occurs remains somewhat undefined, which makes it difficult for practitioners to identify key intervention targets. Objectives: This systematic review will synthesize current peer-reviewed research on the developmental relationship between inattention and reading. The primary aim of this review was to describe how inattention negatively relates to the development of literacy from preschool through middle childhood. A secondary aim of this review was to summarize recent research on the potential differential relationship between attention and literacy among students overrepresented in ratings of inattention, including …

How Hearing Parents With Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing Children Construct Deafness Through Their Early Intervention Experience, Bettie T. Petersen

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This dissertation explores how hearing parents with deaf/hard of hearing children come to understand deafness. This mixed methods study used an online survey and multiple case studies (volunteers from survey). Participants were asked about early intervention experiences and beliefs about deafness. The survey had 74 respondents and five families participated in the interviews. Survey participants’ beliefs about deafness were primarily medical, focusing on the perceived barriers caused by deafness and the remediation of those barriers through spoken language options. A small number of respondents adopted a cultural perspective of deafness and focused on remediation of barriers through involvement in the …

Transition: Early Intervention To Preschool, Kim Thiesse

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) requires all Individualized Family Service (IFSP) plans to address transition. Early Intervention programs must initiate and discuss the transition process from early intervention to school-based services with each family at least 90 days before the child’s third birthday. Transition should be a process of information sharing and planning for each individual family. The transition process can be very stressful for many families because services, service providers, location, and delivery of services change. Preschool is often a family’s first experience with a school environment, successful collaboration and communication through the transition phase enhances the …

Parents Of Children With Hearing Loss: Meeting Parents’ Needs And Concerns Through The Early Intervention Process, Sara Chaddock

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop a deeper understanding of needs of parents of children with hearing loss during the crucial early years of a child’s life, to understand how those needs are met through birth-to-three Early Intervention programs, and to determine if parent identified needs align with the recommended practices for Early Intervention for children with hearing loss stated by the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the Joint Committee of Infant Hearing (JCIH). This study used a quasi-structured web-based survey with both closed and open-ended questions. Three themes emerged from this study: needs for supports for …

Efficiency Of Teaching Sight Words In Similar Vs Dissimilar Sets, Jensen Chotto

LSU Master's Theses

Early reading intervention can decrease the likelihood that children who struggle with reading develop long-term reading problems. Due to the prevalence of words that cannot be read phonetically in the English language, sight word instruction is required to supplement phonics instruction. In this study, we compared the effects of creating sets of sight words with the same starting letter (3 words per set, 3 total sets) versus distributing words with the same starting letter across sets when assessing acquisition of the combined set (9 words) in five 4-to-6-year-old children using a combined adapted alternating treatments design and pre-posttest design. All …

Coaching As A Framework For Early Intervention Service Delivery, Rebecca Walzak

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Abstract

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) has set forth a list of high leverage practices that have significant impact on children with special needs from birth through early childhood. One of these impactful strategies is building family capacity, which can be effectively addressed using a coaching framework for service delivery. Research in the field has not yet clearly defined coaching terms, definitions or characteristics, which impacts the fidelity of the practice and requires research and consensus moving forward. This body of work seeks to look at current research around the topic of coaching and it’s effectiveness in meeting student …

Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives On Family-Centered Practices In Early Intervention, Irma J. Pereira, Francine M. Seruya

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Early intervention (EI) requires service provision in natural settings while incorporating interventions based on family-centered practice (FCP). This study sought to understand (a) how occupational therapists define and implement FCP in their daily interventions and (b) therapists’ perspectives on using this model of practice in EI.

Method: This study used a qualitative, phenomenological approach. Nine licensed occupational therapists from six states with a minimum of 3 years of working experience in the area of EI participated. Semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and subsequently coded and analyzed for emergent themes.

Results: The therapists had an average of …

Barriers To Accessing Early Intervention And Early Childhood Special Education: Professionals' Perspectives, Tracey Miller

Student and Trainee Scholarship

Supervised by the Maine Department of Education, Child Development Services (CDS) provides Early Intervention (EI) for children from birth through age 2 and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) for children ages 3-5 through a network of regional sites.

Access to EI and ECSE services educates and empowers families to understand and respond to their children’s developmental needs and supports improved cognition, language, communication, social-emotional skills, and school readiness. These early gains can lead to better outcomes later in childhood and into adulthood.

Getting Started With Home Visits: Recommendations For Serving Families Of Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Lauri H. Nelson, Samantha C. Gotcher, Lauren Smith

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The successful implementation of newborn hearing screening programs across the United States has facilitated timely diagnosis of hearing loss and referral to early intervention (EI) services for families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), thus increasing the potential for improved language development outcomes. As new parents engage in EI services that involve professionals entering their home, the effectiveness of the early interventionists’ engagement, knowledge, coaching skills, and ability to provide emotional support can substantially influence families’ experiences. This article provides graduate students and new early interventionists an overview of key concepts related to home-based EI services, …

Beliefs And Self-Efficacy Of Parents Of Young Children With Hearing Loss, Sophie E. Ambrose, Margo Appenzeller, Alexandra Mai, Jean L. Desjardin

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to learn more about the beliefs and self-efficacy of parents of young children with hearing loss. Seventy-two parents completed the Scale of Parental Involvement and Self-Efficacy - Revised (SPISE-R), which queries parents about their child’s hearing device use and their perceptions of their own beliefs, knowledge, confidence, and actions pertaining to supporting their child’s auditory access and spoken language development. Two beliefs were identified that related to parents’ action scores and one belief was identified that related to children’s hearing device use. Knowledge and confidence scores were significantly correlated with action scores and children’s …

Ehdi System Effectiveness: The Impact Of Community Collaboration, Kristina M. Blaiser, Gabriel Anne Bargen

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Early Hearing Detection and Intervention systems rely on collaborative, coordinated systems, yet, in actuality, collaboration is often reduced to periodic communication related to processes. This can be even more important in a state like Idaho where access to providers and resources are limited in rural and remote areas. Researchers at Idaho State University were awarded a grant to bring together key community stakeholders with the goal of evaluating and improving families’ journeys from newborn hearing screening to enrollment in Part B educational services. This paper will outline the process and information that was collected as part of the Idaho Community …

A Study On Early Intervention Referrals And Eligibility Of Prenatal Drug-Exposed Children, Holly Nelson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this study was to see what the developmental trend was among children who were prenatally exposed to drugs and early intervention services. There is not much research-based data that has been collected on this topic, even though in 2004 federal legislation was passed to improve early intervention service access for drug-exposed infants. This study was motivated by scientific evidence that maternal substance abuse and prenatal drug exposure has detrimental effects on the fetus and prolonged effects on children. This study collected data on how many prenatally drug-exposed children were referred for early intervention services and how many …

Inclusion/Services And Family Engagement: Leadership Opportunities, Nicole Drown

Poster Presentations

Project was created to provide: data driven materials to Maine's Child Development Services; resources and supports to families; and exploration into Applied Behavioral Analysis for Behavioral Intervention Support learning.

Digital Versus Paper: Comparing The Effectiveness Of Paper And Digital Resources In Parent Follow-Through In Early Intervention Home Visiting, Suzanna Holper

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The purpose of this research study is to determine whether paper resources or digital resources are more effective at eliciting follow-through by parents in between Early Intervention home visiting sessions within Freshwater Education District’s service area. Specifically, the study surveys families that have reliable access to internet as well as looking at differences in the responses based on age of the respondents. The study is structured using a succession of surveys; the first has the participants review the paper resource and the second has the participants review the digital resource. Separate surveys were completed by the home visitor and the …

Including Autism: Confronting Inequitable Practices In A Toddler Classroom, Emmanuelle N. Fincham, Amanda R. Fellner

Occasional Paper Series

As co-teachers in a toddler room, we share a personal narrative about our experiences working with a child diagnosed with autism while in our care. Framed within the competing discourses of the medicalized perspective on disability and the individual, child-centered philosophies of early childhood education, we investigate the inequities we felt in the classroom and make connections to the field of early childhood inclusive education at large.

Listen To Us: Dad-Endorsed Strategies For Ehdi Professionals, Holly F. Pedersen Dr., Jerusha Olthoff

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

While fathers play an increasingly important role in today’s families, there is an imbalance of research regarding fathers of children with disabilities compared to mothers. Modest research with mothers of children who are deaf/hard of hearing exists; however, very limited research is available specific to fathers of that population. With the advent of newborn hearing screening, the number of children who have hearing loss being identified within the first six months of life has significantly increased. Thus, the number of fathers participating in EHDI services has also increased. Seeking to answer the question, What do fathers’ experiences in the early …

Effects Of Frequency Of Early Intervention On Spoken Language And Literacy Levels Of Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing In Preschool And Elementary School, Ann E. Geers, Jean S. Moog, Amanda M. Rudge

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Language delays associated with hearing loss during infancy may have a negative impact on academic development throughout childhood. Early intervention provided by the Moog Center for Deaf Education prior to 36 months of age was quantified, and associations with later outcomes were examined for 50 students who are DHH representing Moog Center alumni. The objective was to determine whether the amount of early intervention (referred to hereafter as dose of early intervention received at the Moog Center during the time children were 0-36 months of age) contributed uniquely to outcomes in preschool (4–6 years) and in elementary school (8–14 years). …

Fathers' Experiences In Early Intervention: Marooned In The Kitchen Or Member Of The Team, Megan Schumaker-Murphy

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Little research about fathers with young children with developmental disabilities or delays and their participation in early intervention/Part C programs is available. This study adds to existing scholarship through a narrative inquiry into the experiences of six fathers with children who have participated in early intervention services. Emergent themes within and across fathers' narratives include high levels of father engagement prior to entering early intervention, overall positive feelings about early intervention due to children's developmental progress, feelings of stress and frustration throughout participation in early intervention, varied relationship quality between fathers and early intervention service providers, an overall lack of …

Cds State Data Review Project: Data Tells The Story, Katharine Appleyard

Poster Presentations

This poster presents data that identifies state and regional site-level trends, outliers, etc., with regard to federal reporting indicators and other factors, in the Child Development Services system.

Supporting Adult Learning In Early Intervention, Carol M. Trivette

Carol M. Trivette

No abstract provided.

How To Support Parents And Professionals In Early Intervention: Principles Of Adult Learning, Carol M. Trivette

Carol M. Trivette

Young children with disabilities have better outcomes when their families and caregivers receive the necessary resources and supports to implement high quality practices. This session will set the framework for how adults learn and how they can learn to implement new practices and modify current ones to have the greatest impact on young children.

In this 90 minute interactive webinar session participants will:

1. Discover a systematic way to develop and present new information to effect change in practice, whether in “coaching” sessions with families or professional development sessions with colleagues.
2. Learn how to implement new practices or modify current practices …

Attachment, Stress, And Self-Efficacy While Parenting Children On The Autism Spectrum, Angela Maire Galioto

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The current study explored the relationship between parental perceptions of stress, self-efficacy, attachment, and child functioning level. Participants were parents of children with ASD enrolled in The Special Beginnings Program (SBP, N = 44) or receiving treatment as usual (TAU, N = 39). Hypotheses included that parental perceptions of child functioning level will be negatively correlated with stress and positively correlated with self-efficacy and attachment. In addition, that parental perceptions of stress will decrease and perceptions of attachment and self-efficacy would increase after Project ImPACT training and at follow-up more so for the parents in the SBP group compared to …

Parent-Implemented Language Intervention With Young Children From Low-Ses Environments Who Have Language Impairment, Courtney Allison Hatcher

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

In this study, the author examined the effects of training four parents from low-socioeconomic environments to use Enhanced Milieu Teaching (EMT) with their young children with language impairment. The investigator used a modified Teach-Model-Coach-Review method to teach parents to use the following EMT strategies during 8-10 individualized, home-based sessions: matched turns, expansions, time delays and milieu teaching prompts. A single-case multiple-baseline design across-behaviors replicated across four parent/child dyads was used to evaluate the parents' use of the EMT strategies. Child language outcomes were also assessed using pre- and post-intervention language samples. All parents learned and demonstrated use of each language …