This book is a result of a Russian-Swedish cooperation between the St Petersburg Early Intervention Institute and the Department of Social work, Ersta Sköndal University College in Stockholm. The framework of this cooperation has been a project financed by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida. The theme of the book is early intervention for children with disabilities, which is an advancing field of knowledge in Russia and other post-Soviet countries, rapidly catching up with clinical standards in Western Europe and the United States but still facing serious challenges from predominant clinical traditions and general attitudes towards handicapped children.

The book provides examples of implementation and development of Early Intervention services in Novgorod, Archangelsk, Minsk and St Petersburg, together with theoretical contributions focusing on subjects like attachment theory, identity development, professional team work, existential and ethical aspects and communication. It also discusses possibilities and dilemmas with practitioners working as researchers in their own field.

The book also brings forward some important conclusions for early intervention as a theoretical and practical field. An effective program in the field of early intervention should build on a clinical program, an educational program, knowledge achievement by means of a clinical research program and policymaking activities. We hope this book will be useful, for practitioners struggling with the complex reality related to the implementation of early intervention as well as for academics and students in this field.