Family-centered early intervention for infants and toddlers with disabilities

Almost 300,000 children in the United States from birth to 3 years of age are affected by a developmental disability. Disabilities have a lasting effect on a child's development and, in turn, may have a psychosocial impact on the child's family. In addition, the limitations of a child with a disability are often related to family members' stress, depression, and feelings of helplessness. Accordingly, not only do children with disabilities have special needs, but also families have unique needs as well. This review article describes the value of a family-centered approach to early intervention services for infants and toddlers and their families. Authors also describe barriers to the implementation of family-centered care and the role that social workers may play in addressing these barriers.