Web 2.0 Can Help Provide Families with Basic Information

Families Need Basic Information
When families first discover that their child has a diagnosed disability or they suspect that s/he has a delay, they need basic information about how early intervention works.  Let's think about how Web 2.0 can help families think about:

• Evaluation and Assessment during the initial IFSP process
• Explaining the purpose of evaluation and assessment to families
• Explaining to families how to prepare for evaluation and assessment
• Explaining what to expect during evaluation and assessment

What Social Media Can Help?
How can Web 2.0 guide families?  Well, first we can use a site like, delicious to collect existing websites that outline the issues.  We could write a blog about the evaluation and assessment process using some of the information we've saved to delicious.  We could develop a website and create an entire section on evaluation and assessment, even uploading documents that families could download or printout that would help them to organize their thoughts, perhaps using McWilliams' RBI form.  

How Can Families find your Information?
You can use Facebook, Twitter and your blog to drive visitors to your site.  By linking your site to other sites, and using links within your site you can also make use of SEO (search engine optimization) to increase the likelihood that potential families find your information.  By connecting your social media page with other existing organizations in your community--childcare programs, Parent2Parent, and advocacy groups that focus on specific disabilities, you can increase the likelihood that families will find your page when they need you.