Topics in Early Childhood Special Education

When Public Law 99-457 was passed 25 years ago, it recog-nized the unique role of families in the development of young children with disabilities. Evidence of this is most salient in the requirement that infant and toddler programs must create an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for all children served and their families. The IFSP should be developed in concert with the family and can contain both family- and child-directed services. Section 619 of the law also mandated the provision of services for children of 3 to 5 years, although the focus on families is geared toward participation in the assessment and decision-making process. The passage of the law, now known as the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, prompted substantial research on families in early intervention and preschool programs (e.g.