Assessment of young children with special needs: Foundations for tomorrow

This article begins with the state of assessment in the 1960s and traces changes through the end of the century. The birth of 20,000 children with rubella syndrome began the focus an the assessment of young children with disabilities. The author's personal challenge in this process led to an unanticipated career in the field of assessment. The strengths of multiple measures, including standardized, norm-referenced measures and informal, functional measures, were all touted as essential in the assessment process. The author recognizes the many events that contributed to her involvement in developing assessment measures and in broadening the assessment mission. The role of the past and its linkage and contributions to the future are conveyed throughout the article.