Tying it All Together
Understanding and
Utilizing the Seven Key
Principles and the
Agreed Upon Practices
to Provide Early
Intervention Services
Understanding the Documents
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Mission and Key Principles of Early Intervention
services.
http://www.nectac.org/~pdfs/topics/families/
Finalmissionandprinciples3_11_08.pdf
Seven Key Principles
http://www.nectac.org/~pdfs/topics/families/
Principles_LooksLike_DoesntLookLike3_11_08.p
df
Agreed Upon Practices for Providing Early
Intervention Services in Natural Environments.
http://www.nectac.org/~pdfs/topics/families/
AgreedUponPractices_FinalDraft2_01_08.pdf
Understanding the Documents
These 3 documents were developed by the
Workgroup on Principles and Practices in
Natural Environments.
This workgroup was put together by the OSEP TA
Community of Practice- Part C Settings.
This workgroup was Sponsored by the Office of
Special Education Programs, US Department of
Education.
This workgroup was facilitated by the National
Early Childhood TA Center (NECTAC).
Understanding the documents
The goal of the workgroup was to produce
consensus documents on principles and
practices of providing services in natural
environments that were validated through
research, model demonstration, and
outreach projects.
Understanding the Documents
What is OSEP?

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is
dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children
and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by
providing leadership and financial support to assist states
and local districts. It is a department within the Department
of Education. OSEP administers the Individuals With
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA authorizes formula
grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of
higher education and other nonprofit organizations to
support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and
dissemination, technology and personnel development
and parent-training and information centers. These
programs are intended to ensure that the rights of infants,
toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and their
parents are protected.
Understanding the Documents
 What
is ECTA Center?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg_ATOKA
L0A&feature=youtu.be

The ECTA Center is developing a system
framework for high quality, effective, and
efficient Part C and Section 619 programs as
one of its initial knowledge development
activities over the first two years of its
cooperative agreement with OSEP. The work will
involve collaboration with national, regional,
and state partners
Understanding the Documents
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Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center
Formerly NECTAC
Now encompasses NECTAC, CELL, and
TACSEI. Will fold in ECO in year two.
http://ectacenter.org/
http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/
http://www.challengingbehavior.org/
http://projects.fpg.unc.edu/~eco/index.cfm
Mission and Key Principles for Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
Mission
Part C early intervention builds upon and
provides supports and resources to assist
family members and caregivers to enhance
children’s learning and development
through everyday learning opportunities.
Activity #1 The Mission
 What
would you write if you were going to
write up a mission statement based on the
medical approach to intervention for your
discipline.
 How does this mission statement contrast
with the mission statement for Part C
services in natural environments.
Mission and Key Principles for Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
1. Infants and toddlers learn best through
everyday experiences and interactions with
familiar people in familiar contexts.
Mission and Key Principles for Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
2. All families, with the necessary supports
and resources, can enhance their children’s
learning and development.
Mission and Key Principles for Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
3. The primary role of a service provider in
early intervention is to work with and
support family members and caregivers in
children’s lives.
Mission and Key Principles for Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
4. The early intervention process, from initial
contacts through transition, must be
dynamic and individualized to reflect the
child’s and family members’ preferences,
learning styles and cultural beliefs.
Mission and Key Principles for Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
5. IFSP outcomes must be functional and
based on children’s and families’ needs
and family-identified priorities.
Mission and Key Principles for Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
6. The family’s priorities, needs and interests
are addressed most appropriately by a
primary provider who represents and
receives team and community support.
Mission and Key Principles for Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
7. Interventions with young children and
family members must be based on explicit
principles, validated practices, best
available research and relevant laws and
regulations.
Key Words in the Documents
 Familiar
contexts
 Supports and resources
 Family learning styles
 Family-identified priorities
 Validated practices
 Primary Provider
Activity #2
 Divide
up into 7 groups.
 Each group is assigned a principle.
 Discuss in your group the Key Concepts
and the Looks Like/ Doesn’t Look Like for
that principle.
 Decide on a way to present your principle
to the rest of the groups. Make sure to
refer to at least one key concept and one
example of does vs doesn’t.
Activity #2 Continued
 Present
your Principle to the group and
include any group “aha” moments that
you may have discussed when reviewing
the principle.
Agreed Upon Practices For Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
 This
document gives examples of
behaviors and actions from the first
contact with the family through transition.
Agreed Upon Practices For Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
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Key words and
concepts in this
document:
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Respect
Culture
Balance (listening
and sharing)
Open ended
questions
System of supports
and services
Learning
opportunities
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Strengths and interest
based questions
Formal and informal
supports
Observation
Equal members
Dynamic plans
Family centered
Concerns, priorities, and
resources
Collaborative plans
Primary service providers
Agreed Upon Practices For Providing
Early Intervention Services in Natural
Environments
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Measurable
Functional
Trust and rapport
Listen, observe,
model, teach,
coach
Reflect
 Community
activities and
informal supports
 Acknowledge
 Celebrate
What is the role of these
documents in your program and
in your personal practices
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Ensure familiarity of all team members with these
documents.
Tie these documents together with the ITC
practice manual.
Identify your programs strengths and concerns
around each key principle.
Identify your personal strengths and concerns
around each principle
Know the definitions of the language we use in
early intervention and ensure consistency and
continuity for families through the process.
Activity # 3
 Based
on the 3 documents choose one
thing you feel you understand and
demonstrate in practice consistently.
 Choose one thing you find unclear or
difficult to demonstrate consistently in
your practice.
 Share these with your group. Provide
each other with constructive suggestions
for improvement.
Next Steps for you and/or your
program
Thank you
 Susan
Sigler, CCC-SLP
Infant and Toddler Connection of FairfaxFalls Church
susan.sigler@fairfaxcounty.gov