Abstract
Occupational therapy provides a unique contribution in early intervention programs for families and their children from birth to 3 years old who are at risk for, or who have, identified disabilities. This article describes occupational therapy's distinct value and presents the profession's perspective on services to enhance families' caregiving capacity and increase their young children's participation in home and community settings where all children typically grow, learn, and develop. Preservice education preparation that equips graduates to contribute as members of the collaborative team in infant and toddler programs addresses discipline-specific competencies, together with competencies that are shared among early intervention professionals. Interprofessional practice competencies that can inform thinking about these distinct and overlapping competencies among early intervention professions are discussed. Implications for entry-level education and continuing professional and interprofessional development are highlighted to suggest recommendations for competent occupational therapy practitioners who provide services in Part C early intervention programs. Additional research is needed to examine family and child outcomes associated with various team practices and service delivery models.