The experience of a mainstreamed program for children aged 4 months through 5 years is reviewed and factors involved in serving children with specific handicapping conditions are examined. The importance of viewing children from a developmental perspective is stressed. Among issues discussed are determining program needs for children with disabilities, providing services for children's basic health needs, preparing staff and parents to deal with children with disabilities, explaining to children about handicapping conditions, and accommodating specific handicapping conditions in the classroom. A 10-step action plan consisting of such tasks as getting information about the handicapping condition and sharing information with staff and families concludes the paper. (CL)