A review of EI/ECSE systems across four settings: Procedures and lessons learned

There is currently no reliable information on the number of children with disabilities across the globe due to differences in terminology, child find systems, and available of psychometrically sound assessment tools to identify children timely. This literature review examines the extant literature related to assessment methods used for identification of children for early intervention/early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) services in four settings: China, Singapore, Taiwan, and Turkey. Search criteria for the study started with peer-reviewed articles, published in English between 2008 and 2019. In addition to the peer-reviewed article search, government reports and technical evaluation papers in each setting's native language are included. Findings are summarized in the following areas: 1) legal foundations; 2) assessment procedures on identification of young children with disabilities, and 3) education services for children with disabilities and their families. Similarities and differences across four settings regarding the EI/ECSE systems and initiatives are examined. Implications for research and practice are discussed.