Vanderbilt Kennedy Center

Research and Disability Topics

Quickly find related research information, services, training, news, video, podcasts, upcoming events, links and other resources that the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center website has related to these topics.

Early childhood development and early intervention

Early childhood development refers to the process of physical, cognitive, personality, and psychosocial growth occurring from birth through age 5. Early childhood education refers to programs for toddlers and preschool children. Early intervention is action taken using medical, family, school, social, or mental health resources. It is aimed at infants and children at risk for or in the early stages of mental, physical, learning, or other disorders. The term may also include obstetric and prenatal care. In the United States, the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that children 3 years of age and older with disabilities receive educational services through public school systems. Consequently, early intervention programs most often serve children from infancy up to 3 years of age.

Resources:

Services and Programs

  • Behavior Analysis Clinic
    The Behavior Analysis Clinic assesses behavioral problems and individually tailors intervention plans to meet the needs of families and care providers.
  • Families First Workshop Series
    The Ann and Monroe Carell Jr. Families First Program is a monthly workshop series for parents of children (ages 2-5) diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
  • Families United Network (FUN)
    A free peer support program for people who provide support for adults with disabilities.
  • SibSaturday Day Camp Program
    A family-centered resource and support program for siblings of children with special needs.
  • TRIAD Social Skills Summer Camp
    The TRIAD Social Skills Summer Camp is a social skills program designed specifically for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders who are between the ages of 7 and 21, and who have language and reading skills.
  • CCDH - Young Children
    Through facilitating community collaboration, fostering self-advocacy, and promoting acceptance, CCDH’s goals include helping individuals identify and access supports and services bringing unmet needs to the attention of decision-makers and advocating for change; providing expertise about best practices and specialized resources; and conducting outreach, education, and professional development activities.
  • Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)
    The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is a national resource center for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country.
  • Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt
    The Department of Pediatrics is associated with some of the finest institutions in the country for the diagnosis and treatment of children. The department is housed within the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, enabling a true synergy between the teaching faculty, house staff and the patients they treat.
  • Family Village - Child Care Resources
    Links from Family Village concerning child care resources.
  • KidsHealth
    KidsHealth is the largest and most-visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence.
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children
    The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization.
  • National Center for Early Development and Learning
    NCEDL is a national early childhood research project supported by the US Department of Education's Institute for Educational Sciences (IES), formerly the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI). Administratively based at the FPG Child Development Institute, NCEDL is a collaboration with the University of Virginia & UCLA.
  • Week of the Young Child
    The National Week of the Young Child focuses public attention on the rights and needs of young children. It is sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which is dedicated to improving the quality of early childhood education for all young children and their families.

Upcoming Events

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