When we whittle early intervention down to its core, I think it’s all about interactions. Interactions between the child and caregiver, first and foremost…interactions between the child and the environment (toys, sofa cushions, spoons and cups, buttons on the TV remote, the family dog)…interactions between the EI practitioner and caregiver that facilitate positive interactions with …
DEC Recommended Practices – Interaction (Part 1)
Posted on February 13, 2018
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Coaching Practices, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies
Reflections on Good or Bad in Early Intervention – Watch this Video!
Posted on February 06, 2018
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Professional Development
Recently, my colleague, David Munson from Montana, shared a Ted Talk video that really moved me. This video features Heather Lanier, an essayist, poet, and mother, sharing her experience of raising her daughter. The video is about more than just a mother and daughter, though. Ms. Lanier digs deeper into our perceptions of differences and …
Ongoing Assessment Occurs Naturally
Posted on January 09, 2018
by
Lisa Terry, M.S., M.Ed.
in All, Assessment, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies
Rosemary, speech therapist, has been seeing Caleb for five months and it is time for his annual IFSP next month. She is worried she does not have enough information to provide developmental age ranges for the annual IFSP. According to the practice manual (Chapter 6, page 2), ongoing assessment is defined as:
“Assessment that occurs as …
Cultural Humility…What Does It Mean to You?
Posted on December 05, 2017
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Local EI System Management, Practical Strategies, Professional Development
Today, we completed our two-part Talks on Tuesdays webinar series entitled “Beyond Cultural Competence: How to Effectively Work with ALL Families.” This webinar series introduced what may be a new concept to early intervention practitioners. This concept, cultural humility, helps us think more deeply about culture and involves a sense of understanding that we do …
Enhancing Quality Functional Assessments for Each Individual Family
Posted on November 28, 2017
by
Lisa Terry, M.S., M.Ed.
in All, Assessment, Engaging Families, Practical Strategies
Assessments continue to evolve in a variety of settings including the medical and educational fields. Though these assessments look and feel different, there is one very large commonality. True individualization is ultimately valued. As we move toward conducting functional assessments, we have to learn how to gather information differently. Rather than interviewing the parent straight …
DEC Recommended Practices: Instruction
Posted on November 07, 2017
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Coaching Practices, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Professional Development
Jenni has two options on every intervention visit:
Option 1: She can work directly with the child while the child’s caregiver observes nearby, or
Option 2: She can provide instruction to both the caregiver and the child by facilitating their interactions with each other during naturally occurring, developmentally enhancing activities.
The first option is probably easier, because in …
“Walk the Walk” of Routines Based Services through Self-Reflection
Posted on October 03, 2017
by
Kalli Decker, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Professional Development
How much do I value families’ everyday routines in being able to positively influence children’s development? So very much. Yet… how often do I find myself on a home visit either: 1) only talking with a family about their routines, or 2) engaging with the family in only the routine of play? Too often!
Values versus …
DEC Recommended Practices: Family (Part 2)
Posted on September 19, 2017
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits, Practical Strategies, Service Coordination
In Part 1 of this series, we met Phoebe, a service coordinator, and Wyatt’s family. Wyatt had just been referred to early intervention, and his family was eager to begin services but feeling overwhelmed by the process and their son’s new diagnosis of cerebral palsy. We began the discussion about the DEC Recommended Practices (2014) under …
Want to See Embedded Coaching? Watch This Video!
Posted on September 05, 2017
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Engaging Families, Intervention Visits
We often hear from early intervention (EI) practitioners that they need more videos that show recommended practices. In order to “do” it, or implement these practices with families, it really helps to “see” it. Because practices are something we do, we need examples to help us know if we are doing them correctly too. This …
A Sunrise EI Moment You’ll Never Forget
Posted on August 10, 2017
by
Dana Childress, PhD
in All, Celebrating Early Intervention, Intervention Visits
You know the one…that moment when your heart filled up and you thought, “THIS is why I do what I do.” It’s that moment when you see a child achieve a milestone that has been long coming, or you watch as a parent realizes that she has taught her child to walk. It’s like a …
