;
Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016
2
similar birthrates over a three-year period, the Illinois Early
Intervention system could anticipate 1,410 children in need of
services from a professional trained in visual impairments. Yet, in
recent years, the Illinois Early Intervention system has had less than
25 Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and 4 Orientation and
Mobility Specialists (O&M) credentialed to provide part C services.
Infants and toddlers learn differently than older children. In
fact, recommended practices in early childhood (2014) call for
service provision in natural settings, through parent-child
relationships, and with parent-identified outcomes. This approach is
fundamentally different than school-based services that are driven
by educational need and adverse educational effects. As a result,
professionals working with infants and toddlers must be trained to
engage in practices that meet the needs of the child and family. In
a white paper regarding family-centered practices, Hatton et al.
(2003) outline the importance of the application of early childhood
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