[Abstract] The purpose of this article is to provide a framework that offers a way for early intervention (EI) service providers to better meet the needs of the culturally diverse children and families they serve. This framework was created to organize existing research and literature on cultural responsiveness in a way that fit the unique context of EI. The framework draws from multiple fields of study, including early childhood, multicultural, and special education, as well as psychology and speech-language pathology, and synthesizes knowledge and best practices into four guiding principles: (1) Examining One's Own Culture; (2) Acquiring Knowledge of Family Cultures; (3) Building Culturally Responsive Practices; and (4) Reflecting and Evaluating Practices. Each principle ties together correspondent themes and ideas from multiple fields, and suggests knowledge and best practices that can be utilized to increase one's cultural responsiveness when working with families.
Date Published: Feb 28, 2013
Source:
Young Exceptional Children
Volume:
16
Issue:
1
Page Numbers:
15-Mar
[Abstract] The purpose of this article is to provide a framework that offers a way for early intervention (EI) service providers to better meet the needs of the culturally diverse children and families they serve. This framework was created to organize existing research and literature on cultural responsiveness in a way that fit the unique context of EI. The framework draws from multiple fields of study, including early childhood, multicultural, and special education, as well as psychology and speech-language pathology, and synthesizes knowledge and best practices into four guiding principles: (1) Examining One's Own Culture; (2) Acquiring Knowledge of Family Cultures; (3) Building Culturally Responsive Practices; and (4) Reflecting and Evaluating Practices. Each principle ties together correspondent themes and ideas from multiple fields, and suggests knowledge and best practices that can be utilized to increase one's cultural responsiveness when working with families.