Briefly reviews modes of HIV transmission and course of the disease, then focuses on its effects on children's development and learning. Describes treatments, therapies, and possible educational interventions. Challenges educators to learn more effective methods of helping these children improve their learning potential and quality of life. (EV)

Describes three types of functional assessment of young children with special needs: play-based, family interviews, and the evaluation of multiple intelligences. Claims that all three types are useful for planning developmentally appropriate interventions and are positive because the emphasis is on the children's and their families' strengths…

Focuses on methods of teaching toileting and independent eating skills to children with disabilities. Methods for teaching toileting skills include timed toileting, scheduled toileting, and the rapid technique. Methods for teaching self-feeding include systematic instruction, positioning techniques, and adaptive modifications. Notes that both…

Types of assessment for young children with special needs can include the following approaches: norm referenced, criterion referenced or curriculum based, adaptive to handicap, process oriented, and ecologically based evaluation. An explanation of each approach is given with a description of possible advantages and disadvantages of each in the…

Discusses the kinds of competencies needed by educators to better assist young children with disabilities and their families. These competencies include: knowledge of early childhood as a distinct phase of development, experiences in working with families, skills in collaboration and coordination, developmentally appropriate intervention, and…

Argues that assessment in early childhood special education needs to go beyond diagnosis of the child in isolation and include evaluation of the child using an ecological perspective. Three aspects of ecological early childhood assessment are discussed: (1) the family interview; (2) the evaluation of adult-child learning styles; and (3)…

Studied a program initiated by a university day-care center designed to increase parent involvement in the following areas: (1) support activities for parents and children; (2) educational activities for parents and children; and (3) leadership activities for parents. Results indicated that support activities helped parents to feel more…

Examines definitions of inclusion, mainstreaming, and integration, focusing on developments within the United States. Reviews legislation leading to inclusion, the debate about use of inclusion in early-childhood special education, and the rationale and research supporting inclusion. Describes factors necessary for successful inclusion, including…

Discusses the negative effects of neglect and abuse on young children, including the cognitive, neurological, and psychological effects. Considers interventions that can prevent neglect and abuse and foster resiliency in the affected children. Advocates the community, family, and professional support of preventive and therapeutic efforts that…

Suggests that teachers use classroom strategies (structure and routine, reasonable rules and limits, using appropriate methods of discipline, other positive behavior management techniques) and socio-emotional interventions (development of friendships, appropriate expressions of emotions, anger control, conflict management, and internal sense of…

Describes the variety of possible effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) on early childhood development in the cognitive, language, social-emotional, motor, and adaptive domains. Suggests interventions which can assist young survivors and their families. Suggests that more long-term, intensive studies be conducted on the short- and long-term…