{"id":678,"date":"2013-04-02T10:21:46","date_gmt":"2013-04-02T14:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/?p=678"},"modified":"2020-06-25T02:45:49","modified_gmt":"2020-06-25T02:45:49","slug":"your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Role in the Early Identification of Autism"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-690\" src=\"http:\/\/veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/S5030005-267x300.jpg\" alt=\"Toddler Looking Up\" width=\"211\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/S5030005-267x300.jpg 267w, https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/S5030005.jpg 336w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 211px) 100vw, 211px\" \/>Early interventionists, physicians and nurses, child care providers, preschool teachers, home visitors, playgroup leaders, family members &#8211; you all have the power to help with early identification of autism spectrum disorder. Earlier identification is associated with earlier, appropriate intervention and better long-term positive outcomes for children. It is not an easy topic to discuss with families, and most of you are not able to make a diagnosis.<\/p>\n<h2>However, you can\u00a0have the conversation. Here&#8217;s how:<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Know the signs<\/strong> &#8211; Educate yourself on the early signs of autism spectrum disorder in infants and toddlers. Some early signs include: delays with social smiling; not\u00a0responding when name is called; delays in communication (ie., delayed vocabulary, lack of joint attention, not using gestures, lack of turn-taking); repetitive behaviors; limited interests and play skills, etc. Read this article for a fantastic overview of prevalence, early signs, and evidence-based practices: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ebsei.com\/dl\/AutismSpectrumDisorder.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Infants and Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Early Identification and Early Intervention<\/a>\u00a0(PDF, New Window) (Boyd, Odom, Humphreys, &amp; Sam, 2010).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Be honest<\/strong> <strong>and supportive<\/strong> &#8211; When a parent asks you the question &#8220;do you think my child has autism?&#8221; recognize this as an opening. While you may be wary to say &#8220;yes&#8221; because maybe you aren&#8217;t sure or maybe you are afraid, you can have an open, honest discussion with the parent. You can ask the parent what she knows about autism and why she is concerned about it. You can discuss the characteristics of ASD and reflect together on whether or not you and the parent seen similar behaviors in the child. You can talk about next steps &#8211; screening, a visit to the pediatrician, etc. You can talk about emotions and fears and help link the parent to people who can help. The video, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=xaWUsXk4nD8&amp;feature=relmfu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Talking to Parents about Autism<\/a>, from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.autismspeaks.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Autism Speaks<\/a>, is a great resource to help you with the conversation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Talk about the impact of early diagnosis and intervention<\/strong> &#8211; You can\u00a0talk with the parent the significant link between early diagnosis and early, appropriate intervention. Talk about the link between early intervention and better long-term positive outcomes for academic and social-communication success. Do not pressure the parent; instead, share information and resources so that she can make\u00a0the informed decision that is best for her child and her family.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Offer a screening<\/strong> &#8211; When a parent is concerned, any of you can offer to help the parent complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.m-chat.org\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">M-CHAT<\/a>. You can provide the parent with the url to the M-CHAT website where the parent can complete the screening online and review the results in private. You can link the parent to a local specialist for screening or further testing if she is ready for this step.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Coach the parent in how to use intervention strategies<\/strong> &#8211; Be sure that your sessions focus on what she can do to help her child learn to communicate and interact during daily routines when you are not in the home. Help her learn how she can make a difference in her child&#8217;s development. Autism is not hopeless. Help her see the impact she can have.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Link the parent to resources<\/strong> &#8211; Provide information about websites, books, support networks, professionals, and other parents who might be resources.\u00a0 Find out about local\u00a0community resources for autism interventions within and outside of the Part C system. Explore her family&#8217;s insurance to find out if it will pay for autism interventions. Share information in written form too\u00a0so that the parent has it when she needs it.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the hardest question is, &#8220;what if I am concerned but the parent hasn&#8217;t mentioned autism?&#8221; How do you bring it up? Look for that opening when discussing the child&#8217;s development. A parent of an older child with ASD once told me that the first person to bring up autism is never going to be someone you will like, meaning that it is natural to be angry with that first person. If you are going to be that first person, be sure to be sensitive and understand that talking about autism is an emotional experience. You can check out this handout,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eipd.vcu.edu\/pdf\/Autism-Talking%20with%20Families-FINALTOPOST.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Concerns about Autism: Talking with Families<\/a>\u00a0(PDF, New Window), developed by the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.eipd.vcu.edu\/sub2_copa.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">VA Community of Practice in Autism (CoPA)<\/a> , that provides guidance on how to talk about autism with families when you have concerns.<\/p>\n<p>Visit our\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.eipd.vcu.edu\/sub_autism.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Autism Spectrum Disorder<\/a>\u00a0page on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.eipd.vcu.edu\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">VA Early Intervention Professional Development Center<\/a> site for links to online learning modules, free articles, and other resources that you and families can access.<\/p>\n<p>Today is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/worldautismawarenessday\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">World Autism Awareness Day<\/a>. Think about the role you can play in early identification.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you talk with families when you or they have a concern about autism? What do you say? What resources do you share?<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Early interventionists, physicians and nurses, child care providers, preschool teachers, home visitors, playgroup leaders, family members &#8211; you all have the power to help with early identification of autism spectrum disorder. Earlier identification is associated with earlier, appropriate intervention and better long-term positive outcomes for children. It is not an easy topic to discuss with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[139,10,12],"tags":[26,31,38,46,48,50,58,59,62,68,86,87,112,125],"class_list":["post-678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all","category-engaging-collaborating-with-families","category-intervention-visits","tag-autism-spectrum-disorder","tag-challenges","tag-communication-development","tag-development","tag-early-childhood","tag-early-intervention","tag-families","tag-family-centered-practices","tag-home-visits","tag-infants","tag-parent-professional-partnership","tag-parents","tag-strategies","tag-toddlers","clearfix"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Your Role in the Early Identification of Autism - Early Intervention Strategies for Success<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dana Childress, PhD\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Dana Childress, PhD\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/912e5da6aba7fba3a723c90a678d1146\"},\"headline\":\"Your Role in the Early Identification of Autism\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-04-02T14:21:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-06-25T02:45:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":795,\"commentCount\":5,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/S5030005-267x300.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"autism spectrum disorder\",\"challenges\",\"communication development\",\"development\",\"early childhood\",\"early intervention\",\"families\",\"family-centered practices\",\"home visits\",\"infants\",\"parent-professional partnership\",\"parents\",\"strategies\",\"toddlers\"],\"articleSection\":[\"All\",\"Engaging Families\",\"Intervention Visits\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/\",\"name\":\"Your Role in the Early Identification of Autism - Early Intervention Strategies for Success\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/S5030005-267x300.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2013-04-02T14:21:46+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-06-25T02:45:49+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/S5030005-267x300.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/S5030005-267x300.jpg\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/2013\\\/04\\\/02\\\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Your Role in the Early Identification of Autism\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/\",\"name\":\"Early Intervention Strategies for Success\",\"description\":\"Sharing What Works in Supporting Infants &amp; Toddlers and the Families in Early Intervention\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Early Intervention Strategies for Success\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/08\\\/logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/08\\\/logo.png\",\"width\":254,\"height\":57,\"caption\":\"Early Intervention Strategies for Success\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/912e5da6aba7fba3a723c90a678d1146\",\"name\":\"Dana Childress, PhD\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/Dana-headshot-2021-4-150x150.jpg\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/Dana-headshot-2021-4-150x150.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2021\\\/02\\\/Dana-headshot-2021-4-150x150.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Dana Childress, PhD\"},\"description\":\"I have worked in the early intervention field for more than 20 years as an early childhood special educator, service coordinator, supervisor, trainer, and writer. I currently work as part of Virginia's early intervention training team developing professional development resources and conducting web-based and in-person training. I was also involved in EI for a brief stint as a parent receiving intervention with my son who had torticollis. I have my MEd in early childhood special education from James Madison University and am working on a PhD in special education at Old Dominion University. My EI interests include family centered practices, supporting family implementation of intervention strategies, and helping bridge the research to practice gap through interactive professional development for in-service early intervention practitioners. I regularly present workshops in VA and have presented at state, national, and international conferences.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/veipd.org\\\/main\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.veipd.org\\\/earlyintervention\\\/author\\\/dana-childress\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Your Role in the Early Identification of Autism - Early Intervention Strategies for Success","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Dana Childress, PhD","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/"},"author":{"name":"Dana Childress, PhD","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/#\/schema\/person\/912e5da6aba7fba3a723c90a678d1146"},"headline":"Your Role in the Early Identification of Autism","datePublished":"2013-04-02T14:21:46+00:00","dateModified":"2020-06-25T02:45:49+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/"},"wordCount":795,"commentCount":5,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/S5030005-267x300.jpg","keywords":["autism spectrum disorder","challenges","communication development","development","early childhood","early intervention","families","family-centered practices","home visits","infants","parent-professional partnership","parents","strategies","toddlers"],"articleSection":["All","Engaging Families","Intervention Visits"],"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/","url":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/","name":"Your Role in the Early Identification of Autism - Early Intervention Strategies for Success","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/S5030005-267x300.jpg","datePublished":"2013-04-02T14:21:46+00:00","dateModified":"2020-06-25T02:45:49+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/S5030005-267x300.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/04\/S5030005-267x300.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/2013\/04\/02\/your-role-in-the-early-identification-of-autism\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Your Role in the Early Identification of Autism"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/","name":"Early Intervention Strategies for Success","description":"Sharing What Works in Supporting Infants &amp; Toddlers and the Families in Early Intervention","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/#organization","name":"Early Intervention Strategies for Success","url":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/logo.png","width":254,"height":57,"caption":"Early Intervention Strategies for Success"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/#\/schema\/person\/912e5da6aba7fba3a723c90a678d1146","name":"Dana Childress, PhD","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en","@id":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dana-headshot-2021-4-150x150.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dana-headshot-2021-4-150x150.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dana-headshot-2021-4-150x150.jpg","caption":"Dana Childress, PhD"},"description":"I have worked in the early intervention field for more than 20 years as an early childhood special educator, service coordinator, supervisor, trainer, and writer. I currently work as part of Virginia's early intervention training team developing professional development resources and conducting web-based and in-person training. I was also involved in EI for a brief stint as a parent receiving intervention with my son who had torticollis. I have my MEd in early childhood special education from James Madison University and am working on a PhD in special education at Old Dominion University. My EI interests include family centered practices, supporting family implementation of intervention strategies, and helping bridge the research to practice gap through interactive professional development for in-service early intervention practitioners. I regularly present workshops in VA and have presented at state, national, and international conferences.","sameAs":["https:\/\/veipd.org\/main"],"url":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/author\/dana-childress\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=678"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4431,"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678\/revisions\/4431"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veipd.org\/earlyintervention\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}