ERIC Number: ED368114
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1993-Dec-10
Reference Count: N/A
Project SpecialCare. Final Report.
Garland, Corinne W.; And Others
Project SpecialCare was designed to expand child care options available for families of young children with disabilities through development of a model for training home-based and center-based caregivers. The SpecialCare model was field-tested with 187 caregivers representing 55 different care settings in eastern Virginia. The SpecialCare model of training builds on traditional caregiving roles and skills, expanding caregivers' knowledge and level of comfort, so that caregivers are willing and able to extend their traditional roles to care for children with disabilities. Training provides information on inclusive child care, getting to know children with disabilities, building relationships with families, including children in daily activities, community services for children with disabilities, and preparing for the child's arrival. Products developed by the project include a caregivers' self-assessment, a manual on active learning for children with disabilities, and a core training curriculum. Project SpecialCare evaluation results indicate that caregivers' comfort, knowledge, and interest in caring for children with disabilities increased following training. Parents of children with disabilities living in communities where SpecialCare training was provided reported that care was significantly more available following training. This report outlines SpecialCare's goals and objectives, theoretical framework, model description, problems, evaluation, impact, and future activities. Appendices provide a chart outlining the SpecialCare curriculum, sample training agendas, sample training materials, and evaluation instruments. (Contains 10 references.) (JDD)
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Sponsor: Special Education Programs (ED/OSERS), Washington, DC. Early Education Program for Children with Disabilities.
Authoring Institution: Child Development Resources, Inc., Lightfoot, VA.
Identifiers: Project SpecialCare; Virginia