Issues concerning the early identification of handicapped children

Despite the awareness that early identification promotes early intervention, most handicaps go undetected until children become school age. Recently some states have initiated statewide early identification projects, many of which are modifications of traditional procedures. However, there is evidence which suggests that conventional methods are ineffective in detecting children with less apparent handicaps. To discover effective and efficient child find procedures, several variables must be examined: (1) population to be screened, (2) massive campaign vs. specific contact, (3) agency effort vs. community-based effort, and (4) referral mode vs. screening mode.