ABSTRACT
Young children with disabilities and delays benefit most from educational services chosen based on culturally responsive and quality assessment methods conducted to understand the strengths and needs of the child and the family. In this chapter, we will examine current practices for culturally responsive assessment methods for children in early intervention and early childhood special education in the United States and common assessment practices in various countries to address early childhood intervention (ECI). The key themes addressed will be: (1) culturally responsive assessment methods in the US and selected other countries in ECI; (2) challenges faced by practitioners and families with assessment and their connections to the procurement of educational services; (3) current trends in measurement and informal assessment methods assessment practices used in ECI; and (4) recommendations for educators and researchers to implement best practices in culturally responsive assessment in ECI and to meet the needs of diverse populations and their families.
