Functional Goals and Outcomes for Young Children with Special Needs

Robin McWilliam, Ph.D. is one of the nation's leading researchers in early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE). He is currently the director of the Siskin Center for Child and Family Research in Tennessee, and a professor at the University of Tennessee. He is the past president of the Division for Research of the Council for Exceptional Children; former editor of the Journal of Early Intervention; and the leading researcher on child engagement in the world. His research has focused extensively on child engagement, family-centered services and integrated therapy and instruction.

Topics include how to:

• Understand the family ecology
• Understand how to use a needs based assessment to develop goals and outcomes
• Develop and implement funtional IEP/IFSPs and/or IEPs
• Develop skills to include family priorities and concerns
• Write functional outcomes using participation-based outcomes
• Learn to effectively service children in natural environments