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How do I use Infant and Toddler IGDIs with children from bilingual families?

Answer: Follow the standard protocol regardless of the child's primary language, including sign language. For young children who are regularly exposed to multiple languages, the coder should be fluent in all languages in which the child communicates. The play partner and, in the case of the ESI, peer play partner should be able to understand the target child's primary language. See below for more considerations for those using the ECI (Early Communication Indicator).

Play Partners with Children from Bilingual Famies

1. Play partner must be fluent in the child's primary language
2. Follow standard administration protocol
3. Communicate with the child naturally in his/her primary language, switching to the secondary language if necessary

Coding Communication of children from Bilingual Families (ECI only)
All words and multiple words, regardless of the language in which they are communicated, should be scored as such, including those communicated in sign language. Therefore, the coder should be fluent in any language regularly used in the child's environment. Failure to code these communications correctly will result in an invalid assessment and should not be compared to norms, nor should they be used in intervention decision making.