Model Programs for Infants and Toddlers with Handicaps

Part of a volume which explores current issues in service delivery to infants and toddlers (ages birth to 3) with handicapping conditions, this chapter describes the history of the Handicapped Children's Early Education Program (HCEEP) and provides information on exemplary program components based on written responses to a survey of 67 HCEEP projects funded from 1981 through 1986. Data are provided on the following topics: program administration, characteristics of children and families served, service delivery options, staffing patterns, philosophical orientation of programs, assessment procedures, family involvement models, and program evaluation. Descriptions of 12 of these model programs follow, chosen to represent a cross-section of philosophical orientations, program goals and objectives, populations served, service delivery options, intervention strategies, and demographic regions, as well as distinctiveness or uniqueness of services to children and families. A discussion of findings notes that program practices are not always consistent with the stated philosophical model and that a need for training staff to work with families is indicated. (JW)