Differential outcome and differential response to research-based interventions are challenging issues for researchers, teachers, and families of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this article, the authors present information on responders to an early education program, Project DATA (Developmentally Appropriate Treatment for…

Because more children under the age of 3 years are being diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), early interventionists face the challenge of identifying appropriate programs to meet the unique needs of very young children with ASD and their families. Project DATA (Developmentally Appropriate Treatment for Autism) for Toddlers is an…

Employing typically developing children and adults as models of appropriate behavior for children with autism and other developmental disabilities has been a common practice for more than four decades, and peer modeling serves as one of the theoretical cornerstones of inclusion and related innovations. In addition to examining adult and peer…

Providing appropriate educational services to young children with autism may be one of the defining challenges of the 1990s and early 2000s for early childhood special education. The number of children with autism is increasing dramatically, the research literature is rich with evidence-based instructional strategies, and the Internet is even more…

This study evaluated effects of a teacher-training package that included sequential components of activity-based intervention (ABI) alone and ABI with discrete trials on the rate of instructional opportunities for young children with disabilities. All three children showed a higher rate of independent correct responses to target learning…

The effectiveness of a peer imitation intervention with three preschool children with autism and one with developmental delays was studied. Results indicated participants increased peer imitation behaviors in small group and free play settings. Increases were also seen in social behavior and in levels of nonsocial engagement. (Contains…

This article identifies three areas in early childhood special education which need further work: working with families to define social outcomes, expanding our definition of social behaviors and moving toward a framework based on social relationships, and developing interventions that are socially valid, ecologically valid, and sustainable across…

This response to McWilliams (EC 623 401) concerning controversial practices in the treatment of young children with disabilities suggests that social-validity assessments be conducted as well as objective measurements. Strategies are offered for discussing treatment alternatives in terms of objectives, acceptability of procedures, effectiveness…

Presents case studies of three children with autism who received educational services in a public-school-affiliated early childhood program during preschool and kindergarten and have had positive outcomes. All children made substantial developmental and academic progress, entered elementary school in inclusive settings, and continue to thrive.…

Presents two studies documenting the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) for 31 preschool children with severe disabilities. Initial findings indicated the children could learn to use PECS quickly and efficiently. The second study, which included 18 participants, found that PECS use generalized to untrained settings. (Author/CR)

This article proposes methods for asking analytic and systemic questions and using quantitative and qualitative data for documenting behavior change in young children receiving special education services. Suggestions are provided for developing data collection protocols that are valid but that are also manageable in practice. (Author/DB)

Two studies examined language intervention practices in preschool classrooms that included children with disabilities. Both a descriptive study involving 59 children and a process-product study involving 62 children found that children more frequently exposed to recommended language practices made greater language gains and demonstrated higher…