During the intake visit, Elaine explains the early intervention (EI) process to Jaxon’s parents. First, she tells them that they are an equal and valued part of the EI team and she encourages them to be active participants in all aspects of the process. Then, when Jaxon’s father asks which services his son will receive …
There is No TEAM without the Family
DEC Recommended Practices – Interaction (Part 2)
In last week’s post, which was Part 1 in this series, I began trying to translate the DEC Recommended Practices for Interaction into practices we can use with caregivers. Rather than focusing on how we can implement these practices with children, we need to really think about how to help parents, child care providers, siblings, and …
DEC Recommended Practices – Interaction (Part 1)
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 …
Ongoing Assessment Occurs Naturally
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?
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
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
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
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)
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 …
A Sunrise EI Moment You’ll Never Forget
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 …