SPED 537: ECSE Methods Multiple Disabilities/ Sensory Impairments Class 2, February 6-7, 2006 Deborah Chen, Ph.D. California State University, Northridge

Agenda  Chapters 1 and 2  Early intervention: Purpose and Principles  Caregiver-Infant Interactions: Context of Intervention

Early Intervention: Purpose and Principles Effects of early experience Transactional model of development Family-centered philosophy Federal legislation Assessment practices IFSP Early intervention services Early interventionists: Roles and competencies Service delivery: Team models and settings

TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT Child’s Biological traits Child’s Biological traits Influences of Environment Influences of Environment Outcome

Family-Centered Philosophy Support family to promote child’s development Legal rights Family/professional collaboration Family involvement Complexity of child’s disabilities Interaction with multiple service providers Different intervention strategies Unique family situations

Assessment Multiple disciplines Family’s Concerns, Priorities, Resources Multiple sources Different measures Appropriate for individual child Social context with familiar caregiver

IFSP 1. Current levels of:  physical (fine and gross motor, vision, hearing, and health)  cognitive  communication  social or emotional  adaptive (or self help) development

Key Roles and Responsibilities Early interventionist/ECSE teacher Speech and language therapist Physical or occupational therapist Teacher credentialed in VI O & M instructor Teacher credentialed in DHH

Team Models Multidisciplinary Interdisciplinary Transdisciplinary Primary service provider

Child and Family Team member Team member Team member Team member Team member Multidisciplinary Team Functioning Model

Child and Family Team member Team member Team member Team member Team member Interdisciplinary Team Format

Transdisciplinary Team Functioning Team Leader Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Team Member Child and Family

Natural Environments or LRE Home Day care Preschool Community settings Center-based programs Benefits and challenges of each setting?

Home Visiting Approaches Teaching child Working with caregiver - information - modeling general caregiving strategies - modeling specific interventions - teaching specific strategies

Home Visit Approaches Supporting the family-child relationship Developing a positive family/professional relationship Providing family with emotional support and resources Source: Klein, M.D. (2001). Home visiting approaches in early intervention serving infants with disabilities. In SPED 695K Interdisciplinary strategies for working with infants who have multiple disabilities [CD- ROM]. Department of Special Education, California State University, Northridge

Home Visiting Strategies and Activities Adult-child dyadic interaction - assessment or intervention activities Adult-adult dyadic interaction - “relationship-based”, problem-solving, “routines-based” assessment Triadic interaction - modeling and coaching Source: Klein, M.D. (2001). Home visiting approaches in early intervention serving infants with disabilities.

Potential Effect of Disability on Caregiver Interactions Visual Impairments Dual sensory impairments Hearing loss Physical disabilities Developmental disabilities Prematurity and health and medical needs Multiple disabilities

Video Observation: Ryan and his mother 6 months old Medical needs Cerebral palsy Cortical visual impairment Developmental disabilities Observations of their interactions

Contingent Experiences Child’s behavior elicits response from environment Adult’s responsive interactions increases child’s contingency experiences Increase child’s motivation to learn, initiation of social interaction and responsiveness

Noncontingent Experiences Adult responses that are not related to the child’s behaviors Stimulation that is independent of the child’s actions Decrease child’s motivation and responsiveness Leads to learned helplessness and prompt dependence

Video Observation: Little Room Jeffrey 2 years old Premature Cerebral palsy Visual impairment Hearing loss Developmental delays

Lilli Nielsen’s Little Room Advantages Contingent experience Cause-effect Stable environment Predictable reactions Exploration of objects Child’s initiation Independent activity Disadvantages Nonsocial Artificial environment Difficult to generalize May be misused - Unsupervised - Too long

Hierarchy of Responses to Sensory Stimuli Awareness/reflexive reactions Attention/alerting responses Discrimination Recognition Comprehension