Social work early intervention for young children with developmental disabilities.
Social workers' awareness of and formal involvement in family-centered early intervention for infants and toddlers who are at risk of or who have developmental disabilities has increased considerably during the past 15 years. The functional role that social workers can play on early intervention teams and as coordinators of early intervention services is underscored by the formal recognition of the discipline in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Despite the relevance of social work to early intervention, personnel often enter early intervention practice without the benefit of formal preparation related to very young children with developmental disabilities. This article provides an overview of the definition and identification of developmental disabilities, and discusses the role of and challenges to social work in early intervention.
Malone
D M
DM
College of Education, University of Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA. d.michael.malone.@uc.edu
McKinsey
P D
PD
Thyer
B A
BA
Straka
E
E
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005190:Family; D006801:Humans; D012947:Social Work