Interventions for Young Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Early Childhood

Abstract

Young children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have complex communication demands require access to effective, evidence-based interventions that address their specific communication needs while also optimising their developmental outcomes. Given the important roles that parents, educators, peers, and siblings play in children's lives, researchers are increasingly focusing on how to better equip these natural communication partners to help children with complex communication requirements communicate effectively. The worldwide society has achieved great progress in saving the lives of children under the age of five in the recent two decades. However, these advancements are not assisting all children, particularly those with disabilities, in thriving. The majority of research on early child development has focused on the effects of biological and psychological factors on the growing brain, as well as the impact of early intervention on child development. However, because children with impairments are often excluded from research, little is known about which interventions are successful for this high-risk group.