Natural Environments: Resources

Early intervention (EI) services for children with disabilities used to be provided in an office, clinic, or a special center. Now, by law, children from birth to 36 months who have or are at risk for developmental delays are entitled to receive EI services in their natural environments. Natural environments are settings that include the same activities and routines that children of similar ages without disabilities take part in. The activities might take place at home or other places the family and the child go during the course of their every­day lives. An EI service provider helps parents adapt daily routines and activities. The following books, videos, articles, and Web resources are available from the Early Intervention Clearinghouse. They are all about natural environments.

Books

Natural Environments and Inclusion
Susan Rebecka Sandall & Michaelene Ostrosky (Eds.)
Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children, 2000.
Call Number: HQ 778.5.N285
Online Catalog:http://illinoisearlyintervention.worldcat.org/oclc/55220314
This short book addresses the importance of natural environments and inclusion. Chapters include “It’s Only Natural...to Have Early Intervention in the Environments Where It’s Needed” and “Interest-Based Natural Learning Opportunities.” The last chapter titled “Resources within Reason: Natural Environments and Inclusion” includes lists of books, videos, and Web sites.

Video

Being a Kid: Services and Supports in Everyday Routines, Activities, and Places
6-minute VHS
Western Media Products, 1999
Call Number: HV 888.5 .B422 1999
Online Catalog:http://illinoisearlyintervention.worldcat.org/oclc/41891495
This video was part of a national teleconference on natural environments. It shows a family and therapist working collaboratively to integrate therapy goals into daily routines at a neighborhood playground.

Web Resources

Family-guided Approaches to Collaborative Early-intervention Training and Services (FACETS)
Web site: http://facets.lsi.ku.edu/html/fafamilies.shtml
This Web site features family stories, along with other information and training for supporting children’s development in natural environments. The materials were created for family members, EI service providers, and administrators.

Natural Environments: The Places Where Young Children Learn Best
Web site: http://www.wpic.org/PDF/Disability_Brochures/12NaturalEnvironments0509.pdf
This brochure, produced by a Parent Information Center, suggests questions that parents can ask when choosing a natural environment setting for their child.

Seven Key Principles: Looks Like/Doesn’t Look Like
Web site: http://www.nectac.org/~pdfs/topics/families/Principles_LooksLike_DoesntLookLike3_11_08.pdf
This NECTAC fact sheet provides examples of what services provided in natural environments should “look like” in practice.

Articles

Natural Environments: A Letter from a Mother to Friends, Families, and Professionals. Lorna Mullis. (2002). Young Exceptional Children, 5(3), 21-24.
A mother of a son with Down Syndrome discusses how her family and child care providers work with him in natural environments to support his learning in daily activities. She urges other parents to keep trying until they find the right match that works for their family.

Strategies to Help Children with Special Needs Enjoy Successful Community Outings. Alan Harchik & Patricia Ladew. (2008). Exceptional Parent, 38(12), 75-77.
Noting that even uneventful days at home can be challenging for a child with a developmental delay, the authors discuss how parents can help their child have positive experiences with people and places in their community.