Developmental Assessment
Links
(Booklet, 33 pages; BC-ACCS, 2004)
Information about early intervention therapies to help families access early intervention therapy services, advocate for funding for services, and partner with early intervention therapists. Uses stories to illustrate examples of therapy services.
Aboriginal Infant Development Programs in B.C. support families of infants who are at risk for or have been diagnosed with developmental delays. Programs are voluntary, family centered, and primarily focused on children ages 0–3 (in some communities 0–6). AIDP consultants support families by providing home visits, activity planning, and developmental and family needs assessments in culturally sensitive and meaningful ways. Consultants also assist families in accessing other health, social, and community services.
Brookes Publishing publishes this widely used developmental assessment tool, as well as a large, focused selection of books, tools and other resources for professionals who work with children with developmental disabilities and their families.
(Kit; The Portage Project, 2004)
The well-known Portage developmental assessment materials were originally created to support parents through home-based intervention programs, but have been revised and updated and are now equally useful for outreach or centre-based programs. The Portage assessment looks at: communication/language/literacy, exploration and approaches to learning, social/emotional development, purposeful motor activity, and sensory organization. Tools are easy to understand, and include developmental information and excellent practical suggestions for how to nurture children in daily routine activities. Kit includes: observation and planning tool, planning forms, activity and interaction cards, user’s guide, and wall chart of developmental stages. (Note: this is a generic tool and not developed especially for aboriginal children).
Cost: US$50. Order on-line or by mail from The Portage Project.
(Checklist; The Nipissing District Infant Development Program, Ontario, 2001)
The NDDS is a uniquely Canadian developmental screening tool which examines 13 key developmental stages between one month and 6 years of age, focusing on vision, hearing, speech, language, communication, gross and fine motor, cognitive, social/emotional, and self-help. Checklists are accompanied by a series of detachable play activities that promote the development of key skills in each age group. (Note: this is a generic tool and not developed especially for aboriginal children). Cost: $50. Order from: Nipissing District Developmental Screen. Note: The NDDS™ can provide trainers/ facilitators to assist customers with the correct use of the screen. Contact NDDS for details.
(Booklet, 53 pages; BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, 2007). Early Intervention Therapy Guide. Free download online from BC-ACCS.
(Curriculum kit; The Portage Project)
Designed specifically for working with children aged 2–6 in a classroom setting, this adaptation of the Portage materials helps early childhood educators plan for each child’s involvement in ways that are appropriate and that support developmental progress. Includes administrative manual, classroom checklist, individual child profiles, 8 instructional units, and over 90 family activity letters. Available for loan from BC-ACCS.