Welfare reform: The special case of young children with disabilities and their families

Young children with disabilities and their families have been ignored in re search on the effects of welfare reform on children and families. This arti cle provides a framework for thinking about how welfare reform affects this population and presents strategies for addressing their unique needs. It d ocuments the relationship between disability and poverty, as well as the pr evalence of disability among mothers and children who receive welfare. It r eviews major changes in the law and highlights the challenges they present. For each challenge, one suggestion is given. A final section calls for spe cific actions to help this population.