Preparing Tomorrow's Early Childhood Intervention Leaders

Preparing Tomorrow's ECI Leaders The proposed Project is designed to meet the absolute priority of preparing personnel at the doctoral level to administer and enhance early childhood intervention (ECl) programs and services (Preparation of Leadership Personnel 84.3250). The Project will ensure that graduates have competencies in understanding and working with culturally and linguisticallv diverse populations, ensuring access and progress of all children within the general curriculum, providing coordinated services in the natural environment, and using technology as a tool to improve ECI preservice preparation and direct services. The proposed Project will integrate research-based curriculum and pedagogy and offer training and practice opportunities related to developing collaborative skills. Ten (10) graduates will be trained to assume leadership positions in ECI, particularly within institutions of higher education. Definition of Key Terms Throughout this proposal, the terms early childhood and young children refer to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary-aged children with varying abilities. Varying abilities refers to children at-risk for or identified with disabilities. ECI refers to a broad range of educational and therapeutic services from diverse agencies for young children and their families (e.g., public schools, hospitals, child care centers).