Logan’s annual IFSP review is underway and you are excited to celebrate his progress. You’ve been working with his family for a year so you’ve seen the steady pace at which Logan continues to develop. When he first entered early intervention, he was only two months old and doing most of the things a two-month-old …
Logan is Not a Number! – Explaining the Child Outcomes Process
Coaching from the Outside
In evidence-based early intervention, our primary aim is to coach, rather than to “do therapy” ourselves. We teach families how to help their children. The most challenging part of coaching can be finding effective ways to invite parents to participate and join in the interactions with their child.
Location, Location, Location
As therapists, it is natural for …
3 Interventions Every Early Interventionist Needs to Know – Part 1
Okay, when you read that title, maybe you were curious, wondering if you were going to learn about three new discoveries that will make your job easier. Or, maybe you did a quick eyeroll, thinking “Here we go, the next big ‘thing’ that I need to do.” Either way, I’m glad you’re here. While I’m …
EI Research to Practice Brief #7 – Conversational Turn-Taking between 18-24 Months Really Matters
You may have seen that awesome clip in the news recently of the father having an animated conversation with his 18-month old son. (If not, click the link and it will make your day!) Not only is it completely adorable, but it’s also a perfect example of a concept called “conversational turn-taking.”
Turn-taking is one …
I’ll have Eggs with a Side of Parenting Please
Parenting Style is Similar to How One Would Purchase Eggs
As a parent and a professional who works with a lot of different families, I have noticed that there are two ways that Moms and Dads parent their child(ren) in this day and time. It appears that parenting style is similar to choosing eggs in the store: …
Self-Actualization: Hello, I am the Parent of a Child with Disabilities
We are at the end of our discussion on the levels of awareness of parent of young children with disabilities. We have explored the ostrich phase – a time when a parent has a lack of awareness about disabilities and may not recognize the characteristics of a disability displayed by his or her child. Additionally …
Normalization – The Hope Phase
We are nearing the end of our discussion on the levels of awareness of parents of young children with disabilities. We have explored the ostrich phase – a time when a parent has a lack of awareness about disabilities and may not recognize the characteristics of a disability displayed by their child. Additionally, we have …
Extra! Extra! Read All About…Integrating the Decision Tree
Have you heard the news? Assessment teams all over Virginia are integrating the Decision Tree (PDF, New Window) into practice (Drum Roll Please). The Decision Tree is a tool used for teaming and family engagement during the child outcomes summary process.
Let’s imagine that a team from Collaboration County is successfully using the Decision Tree. What …
An Invisible Bridge – Collaborating with Language Interpreters
You know the feeling…wishing you could speak the family’s language so you can build that strong relationship that’s so important in early intervention (EI). It can be challenging to coach a family when you have a language barrier, but a good interpreter can help you overcome that challenge. I recently met a new colleague with …
DEC Recommended Practices: Transition
Transition is a hefty topic here in Virginia, and I bet it’s probably a hefty topic in other states as well. Transition, and all of the requirements that go along with it, can be overwhelming to all members of the IFSP team. In VA, we often hear from service coordinators that transition is hard – …