Does My Child Have a Developmental Delay?

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.

Sarah Vanover has been working in the field of early childhood education for over sixteen years and has had the opportunity to be a classroom teacher, a director, and a trainer for other early childhood professionals. 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. She is the author of Finding Quality Early Childcare: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents about What Matters Most (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016).

Foreword
Dr. Julie Rutland, Professor of Early Childhood Education, Morehead State University
Preface
Chapter 1: Noticing Differences
Developmental MilestonesWhat the Parent NoticesWhat the Teacher NoticesStory #1 - Sydney's Story
Chapter 2: Assessments and Conferences
The Purpose of Developmental AssessmentsWhat is in Assessments?How Teachers Share Information with FamiliesStory #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?
TerminologyWhat Conditions are Included?LabelsStory #4 - Preston's Story
Chapter 5: The Burden on the Family
What is Chronic Sorrow?Stages of GriefTraits of Parents Raising Children with Special NeedsBeing the Expert on Your ChildStory #5 - Olivia's Story
Chapter 6: Alphabet Soup: IDEA, IFSP, and IEP
IDEAIFSPIEPStory #6 - Samantha's Story and the Classroom Teacher's Perspective
Chapter 7: The "New" Special Education
The Inclusive ModelSee It, Do It, Teach It/ Peer Role ModelsTeam ApproachTherapy in the ClassroomThe Natural EnvironmentStory #7 - Melena's Story and The Therapist's Perspective
Chapter 8: The Early Intervention Process
The Role of the Developmental InterventionistThe Role of the Classroom TeacherThe Role of the TherapistsThe Role of the FamilySharing Common GoalsStory #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