Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Early Childhood Special Education

This paper examines issues related to current practice in early childhood special education in the light of developmentally appropriate practice. The emerging debate revolves around the ‘appropriateness’ of DAP principles to the education of young children with disabilities. In particular, the importance placed on play in mainstream early childhood education and whether this can be transferred successfully to special education programs. The emergence of transactional/ecological approaches to early intervention appear to be addressing this issue. This approach is examined. The aim of this paper is, however, to stimulate further debate on the applicability of DAP to early childhood special education. Some possible future directions for research are discussed.