PROVIDING SUPPORT TO FAMILIES OF INFANTS WITH DISABILITIES

In recent years, professionals in early intervention have increasingly acknowledged the importance of social support to families of young ch ildren with disabilities. In spite of this recognition, there have bee n relatively few attempts to describe systematic strategies for provid ing direct support to families. This paper describes a model for provi ding support services directly to families. In addition to describing the rationale for each component of the model, specific information is provided with respect to Me structure and content of the support. Gen eral phases of group and individual support, critical features of the model, and issues that must be addressed to implement the model are de scribed.