Does My Child Have a Developmental Delay?: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents on Early Intervention

by Sarah Vanover

Overview

Parents can easily be confused when they suspect that their child may have a developmental delay. The family members can have many questions about the process of seeking special education support, and they often feel isolated from friends and family ask they attempt to make the best decisions for their child. Does My Child Have a Developmental Delay?: A Guide for Parents on the Early Intervention Process is a step-by-step guide for families on how to navigate the early intervention process. The book also includes personal stories of families that have experienced the early intervention process with their own children.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475842029
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/15/2018
Pages:	190
Sales rank:	739,604
Product dimensions:	6.18(w) x 9.53(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Dr. Sarah Taylor Vanover has been working in the field of early childhood education for over nineteen years and has had the opportunity to be a teacher, an educational coordinator, a director, and a trainer for other early childhood educators. For the past several years she has focused her work and research on assessing quality early childhood programs for health and safety requirements and school readiness skills.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Dr. Julie Rutland, Professor of Early Childhood Education, Morehead State University

Preface

Chapter 1: Noticing Differences

• Developmental Milestones
• What the Parent Notices
• What the Teacher Notices

Story #1 – Sydney’s Story

Chapter 2: Assessments and Conferences

• The Purpose of Developmental Assessments
• What is in Assessments?
• How Teachers Share Information with Families

Story #2 – Ty’s Story

Chapter 3: Referrals and Evaluations

• What is a Referral?
• Who Makes Referrals?
• What is an Evaluation?
• What Do Evaluation Results Mean?
• What Options Do You Have After the Evaluation?

Story #3 – Emily’s Story

Chapter 4: What is a Developmental Delay?

• Terminology
• What Conditions are Included?
• Labels

Story #4 – Preston’s Story

Chapter 5: The Burden on the Family

• What is Chronic Sorrow?
• Stages of Grief
• Traits of Parents Raising Children with Special Needs
• Being the Expert on Your Child

Story #5 – Olivia’s Story

Chapter 6: Alphabet Soup: IDEA, IFSP, and IEP

• IDEA
• IFSP
• IEP

Story #6 – Samantha’s Story and the Classroom Teacher’s Perspective

Chapter 7: The “New” Special Education

• The Inclusive Model
• See It, Do It, Teach It/ Peer Role Models
• Team Approach
• Therapy in the Classroom
• The Natural Environment

Story #7 – Melena’s Story and The Therapist’s Perspective

Chapter 8: The Early Intervention Process

• The Role of the Developmental Interventionist
• The Role of the Classroom Teacher
• The Role of the Therapists
• The Role of the Family
• Sharing Common Goals

Story #8 – Holly’s Story and The Developmental Interventionist’s Perspective

Chapter 10: The Parents’ Roles as Advocates

• What Does It Mean to be an Advocate?
• What Does the World Need to Know About My Child?
• Speaking Up without Turning People Off

Editorial Reviews

Families are faced with two challenges when they learn that their child requires special education early intervention services. In addition to supporting the developmental needs of their child, they must also acknowledge and manage their own emotions. The latter can be a struggle for families; they must cope with their own sense of grief while also serving as advocates. Dr. Vanover's work gives families the tools required to be champions for their children.

Erin K. Stauder

Dr. Sarah Taylor Vanover uses real stories from families and professionals to share the journey of parents who realize their child has a developmental delay. In her step-by-step guide, she helps parents; identify and cope with their feelings, prepare for assessments and conferences, understand terminology and early intervention, be introduced to special education, and foster hope as they learn to become their child’s best advocate.

Ann Story Hughes

This book is an important tool…Sarah Taylor Vanover provides a much needed guide to help parents navigate the highly complex, confusing and often inadequate process for the evaluation and acquisition of supports and interventions for a child with developmental delays. Of added importance, this book provides counsel for the rarely addressed chronic grief and sorrow that parents carry through possibly a life long journey.

Daniel Larrow