• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

DOCUMENT RESUME ED 305 788 EC 212 588 AUTHOR Wetherby, Catherine, Ed. TITLE Early Intervention for Children Birth Througn 2 Years. INSTITUTION Interstate Research Associates, Inc., Washington, D.C.; National Information Center for Handicapped Children and Youth, Washington, DC. SPONS AGENCY Special Education Programs (ED/OSERS), Washington, DC. PUB DATE 88 GRANT G0087C3051 NOTE 14p. PUB TYPE Collected Works - Serials (022) Guides - Non- Classroom Use (055) JOURNAL CIT NICHCY News Digest; n10 1988 EDRS PRICE MFO1 /PCO1 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Child Development; *Child Rearing; Developmental Stages; *Disabilities; Identification; *Infants; Intervention; *Parent Participation; Parent Role; Preschool Education; Stimulation; *Toddlers IDENTIFIERS *Early Intervention ABSTRACT Information is provided for parents of handicapped children, aged 0-2 years, on the uniqueness of each infant's learning processes and the valuable role that parents and others can play in helping their infants with special needs to make the most of their abilities. The digest examines parents' concerns during the infant's hospital stay and early days at home, emphasizing the stresses on not only the parents but other family members. It notes the availability of early intervention programs, and describes methods of identifying infants who need early intervention services. Principles of infant development are discussed, along with the sequence of development of motor skills, language or communication, cognition, and socialization. Throughout, the digest stresses the uniqueness of each child's skills and personality and the parents' roles in stimulating their infant's development. The digest concludes with a bibliography and list of organizations that can provide information and assistance. (JDD) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. **********************************************************************ft U.S. DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION Office of Educe!. Onal Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) VAdocument has been reproduced as received from the person or draansZahOn Onginahng Minor changes have been made to improve CX) reproduction Quality rft Points of view or opinions stated in this doctr Ll1 ment do not necessarily represent official O OERI position or policy reN O LU Early Intervention for Children Birth Through 2 Years News Digest, Number 10, 1988 National Information Center for Childre and Youth with Handicaps S 2 [ NUMBER 10 1988 National Information Center for Children and Youth with Handicaps EARLY INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN BIRTHTHROUGH 2 YEARS The National Information Center for and support groups that can help. This infants with special needs. Most of all, Children and Youth with Handicaps issue of News Digest is written to provide this issue of News Digest is intended to (NICHCY) regularly receives re- parents with information on (1) how help parents deal confidently with the quests from parents and others for in- each infant learns in his or her unique challenges of helping their child make formation on raising infants with spe- way, and (2) the valuable role that par- the most of his or her abilities. cial needs and on programs, resources, ents and others can play in helping their ry about their newborn, most parents of In the Hospital vulnerable infants find it more difficult Many infants are born with handi- to put aside their fears. The stress and caps that may appear serious but do not emotions of the first days and weeks of the baby's life will take time to fade, nfants are active learners necessarily pose an immediate threat to their health. Parents of these infants of- and anxiety about the future is very from birth. Having a handicap or seri- ten experience a range of emotions dur- real. ous illness doesn't change this fact; how- ing the hospital stay that may or may not When parents bring their baby ever, these infants may need extra help be offset by a caring and understanding home, they often find that they haveex- in developing the skills needed to learn hospital staff and by the support and changed one anxiety-provoking situation and grow. This help may come from for another. In some cases, they are structured early intervention programs ercouragement from family and friends. The sense of lightheartedness bringing home an infant who has been as well as from normal, everyday inter- cared for by a large staff of well- actions with parents and other family that often accompanies the birth ofa child can be displaced by the thoughts trained professionals in a carefully con- members. Parents need to become and concerns about the unexpected and trolled and highly specialized environ- aware of the importance of their role in ment. If the infant had been connected facilitating, guiding, and supporting unknown, turning this into a time of stress and uncertainty for parents. to intravenous (IV) tubes and monitor- their baby's development. With time When a baby is born with complex ing equipment from the first days of and understanding, parents can become life, he may be leaving the hospital still their baby's best ally in interpreting medical problems or is at risk for de- veloping serious handicaps through requiring special equipment, complicat- needs. Also, with time and understand- prematurity, illness, disease, malfor- ed feeding procedures, and frequent, ing, they will be able to develop the mations, arrested development, or otherprecisely administered medications. coping skills they'll need to face the complications, the hospital experience Suddenly the parents alone are respon- day-to-day realities of the handicap or can be particularly unsettling for par- sible for that same care at home. And illness. ents. The fast - paced, high-tech atmos- although they may have received thor- The majority of new parents start out phere of the neonatal intensive ough, but accelerated, eon-the-job" with little preparation or special train- care unit (NICU) can be frightening and training from the NICU staff at the hos- ing in meeting the unique, ongoing chal- may contribute to the stress and confusion pital, parents still may not feel confi- lenges and demands of a newborn. parents already feel with the child's dent in providing that same care at home Even experienced parents must readjust birth. Often, parents are faced with to their new, and often fragile, baby. their lives whenever another child is making life-or-death decisions about Even in the safety of their home, parents added to the family. Yet, parents of in- may be afraid to leave their baby un- fants who have handicaps or serious ill- situations unfamiliar to them at a time when they are most vulnerable. In addi-watched even for a moment, andmay be ness, or who are at risk of developing tion, they may be exhausted from travel-easily upset by any unusual noises or handicaps as the result of prematurity ing back and forth to the hospital sever- movements their baby makes. Exhaus- or other birth complications, must deal al times daily and disappointed at not tion from sleepless nights, responsibili- not only with the normal challenges of being able ,D take their baby home. ty for continuous monitoring of the parenthood, but with additionalstresses baby's vital signs, and intricate, round- and concerns for which they are typical- At Home the-clock feeding and medication sched- ly not prepared. Regardless of the seri- ules can cause even the most conscien- ousness of the handicap or illness, each Even when it has been determined tious and self-assured parent to become change in their baby's condition that an infant is well enough to leave thestressed and distracted. These circum- presents a new set of questions, con- hospital, parents' fears do not immedi- stances may cause parents to remain cerns, and challenges that parents must ately dissipate, in fact, they are i'cry of- anxious long after the baby looks -- and confront. ten intensified. While all parents wor- is -- less fragile. 3 current technology have made it possi- ble for an increasing number of low ...the emotional and physical demands that birthweight and other at-risk babies to survive. accompany the birth of achild with special Another reason for expansion in this area is that since the 1960's there has needs should never be underestimated. been an increased awareness of the val- ue of early :ntervention for young chil- dren in general and particularly for in- fants and toddlers who have handicaps Other Concerns do the best job they can. They especially or who are at risk for developing handi- need to know that other parents of chil- caps. Research suggests that early inter- In addition, the birth of an infant dren with special needs have had simi- with an illness, handicap, or condition vention with infants, in which problems lar problems and feelings and that are identified and treated as early as that can lead to later delays can put un- help and support are available. due stress on family finances and fami- possible, can make a significant differ- Professionals, family members, and ence later in their physical, cognitive, ly life. Most new parents have not had friends also must recognize that parents time to cope with the stresses and emo- and social abilities, and can minimize do not always find involvement with the effects of present or potential handi- tions of the early days of their baby's their infant's development and progress life or accept the fact of the handicap or caps (Weiner & Koppelman, 1987). to be a satisfying or rewarding experi- The impact of studies and 7esearch illness, before they must also cope with ence. Some parents may always have present realities. on the -ffectiveness of providing special difficulty coping with a child with education to very young children has re- Parents may have to negotiate with handicaps. insurance companies over hospital bills; sulted in a federal law, passed in 1986.

Load more

  14

Copy Link