The Teachable Moment and the Handicapped Infant.

Abstract

ABSTRACT' The report examines, from a cognitive develOpmental view, research on the teachable moment or critical learning period .in handicapped infants. The author explains that developmental gaps are -produced by a mismatch between the infant's readiness. and opportunity to learn. Characteristics and educational implications of specific handicapping .conditions (including blindness, Down's syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, amputation, physical handicaps, severe `handicaps,. multiple handicaps, spina bifida, and deafness) are detailed, for thefollowing aspects of development: visual pursuit and permanence of objects, meansends relationships, causality, -construction 'Of .objects in:space,-behavidrs relating to objects, imitation,. development, Stage I cf the sensorimotor period and its relationship to cognition,-and language development. Emphasized in each discussion is.the importance of understanding the effects of the .infantes handicap on overall development, designing alternative strategies for minimizing or preventing the effect of the handicap, and recognizing' when, the inf4nt is ready to acquire information from an interaction.--(CLV

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