It has been emphasized that assessment procedures for young children with disabilities require different approaches than for school age children with disabilities. The field of early intervention and early childhood special education has provided guid...
It has been emphasized that assessment procedures for young children with disabilities require different approaches than for school age children with disabilities. The field of early intervention and early childhood special education has provided guidelines for assessment procedures and methods for this population. These emphasize (a) Professional and family collaboration, (b) individualized and appropriate assessment, (c) useful information, and (d) respectful sharing of information. Early childhood assessment must reflect eight critical qualities: utility, acceptability, authenticity, collaboration, convergence, equity, sensitivity, and congruence.
However, current knowledge, related laws, and guidelines as well as research in the area of assessment procedures for young children with disabilities in Korea are limited to meet the qualities of early childhood assessment. This paper describes the current status and limitations of assessment practices and policies for young children with disabilities in Korea. It is suggested that appropriate assessment procedures and methods need to be developed, In particular, development of guidelines for assessment and assessment tools, provision of preservice and inservice in the area of evaluation and assessment, and development of inter-agency collaboration systems are required to identify young children with developmental disabilities and prove appropriate services to them.