A Labor of Love
Diane Bricker
While an undergraduate at Ohio State University in Speech and Drama, UO alumna Diane Bricker, PhD visited Columbus State Hospital to volunteer. Horrified by the conditions there, Diane began a lifelong career, working to better understand the needs of children with disabilities and develop interventions that could improve their quality of life. Her research has resulted in two of the most widely used screening and assessment tools worldwide, leading to earlier interventions and improved outcomes for millions of children.
Coming to Eugene in 1960 after earning her degree in speech pathology, Diane earned her master’s in education at the University of Oregon. After graduating, she returned to Eugene in 1978, when she was offered a position as director of the early education program at the Center on Human Development, which serves infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children to this day. Having earned her PhD at Vanderbilt, Diane had been developing a child-centered approach there that she further developed in her time at the UO, known as Activity-Based Intervention.
A chance breakfast meeting with peer researchers at the Kansas City Airport in 1972 led Diane, together with a team of researchers from across the country, to develop the Assessment Evaluation Programming System (AEPS), a comprehensive assessment tool still in use today. Diane recalls, “It seemed that everyone concerned with young children within earshot was feeling a strong and urgent need for alternatives to using standardized, norm-referenced tests.” The third edition of the AEPS is currently in development and is used in the state of Oregon for most of its Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) programs. Even Diane’s granddaughter, a speech pathologist working in Multnomah County, uses the AEPS with her clients. Diane says, “40 years later, my granddaughter is using something that we developed in 1972.” When asked how it felt to have that kind of legacy, Diane says, “it feels pretty good!”
In 1984, Diane and her collaborator, Jane Squires, along with a cadre of students and fellow researchers, developed the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), now the most widely used screening tool in the world. Diane is proud of its low cost and ease of use, and that parents participate in their child’s screening. ”It puts power in the hands of parents because they begin to understand what they should be looking for in children.”
Now retired, instead of relaxing or traveling, Diane is busy researching and updating both the AEPS and ASQ. She also recently completed writing a history of special education, EI/ECSE: A History of Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education in the United States. When asked if she wouldn’t rather be pursuing less rigorous hobbies, Diane says that she considers her work a “labor of love.”
I had the privilege to work under Diane and Jane at the University of Oregon 1993-1995 pursuing a dual Master’s program being offered at the time in both Early Childhood Intervention and Speech Language Pathology. Being trained in Activity Based Intervention, AEPS, and ASQ by the creator’s was an amazing experience. I still use the AEPS in my private practice today, 25 years later. Thank you for this profile on Diane and for highlighting the nationally recognized Center on Human Development at the University of Oregon.
I graduated from Diane’s program in the 70’s in Eugene. I was working at the time in a Neo-natal unit at the local regional hospital in Eugene. My education was invaluable in working with young mothers of premature infants, especially in the area of feeding. The value of early intervention with young children and their families has grown even more important. I am 75 now, and retired, but look back on my education at the U. of O. as an important part of my life and growth as an individual. I continue to support Diane’s program. My education was essentially free, so with today’s cost of an education I feel obligated to support others.
Three years ago, had the privilege to engage with her in a deep and profound conversation for an hour and I still remember every word. So much respect!
Diane was on my mind just this week as I was working with a school district on an early childhood initiative. I realized (again) that the philosophies and frameworks I always come back to were those Diane taught me in my masters and doctoral programs at the University of Oregon in the 1980s. Diane fostered critical thinking, experience-based learning, interdisciplinary, collaborative and collegial work, and innovation based upon sound principles and grounded in evidence. These are over-used words, but they are true about Diane. I consider studying with Diane one of the great privileges of my life. How wonderful that her work is alive through all those she taught, and all those we taught.
The UO COE has a number of memorable alumni. But not all are synonymous with a “life-long commitment”. So many of us are grateful that she returned to her alma mater as a faculty member and engaged us in critical thinking and reflection on what works for young children with disabilities and their families. Many of her students went on to be leaders in the field of early childhood special education and carried the torch Diane handed them. Best decision I ever made was to pack up the Corolla and head across country to study with Diane’s guidance. As one of those Lucky Ducks (Ph.D. ’85) I graduated with the tools to carry me through a successful and enjoyable 35 year career in higher education. I realized in hindsight, that my frequent mantra with students who were passionate but as yet unfocused in how best to maximize their careers, was the one I had heard Diane and many other COE faculty members use so often with me and my classmates: “Show me the data.” The data sure are evident in the long successful career of Diane Bricker, a Duck with commitment.
A huge shout out of appreciation for Diane’s clear mind, astute perceptions, articulation in writing and speaking….and ultimately innovative solutions in our field of early intervention and early childhood special education. These tools are the backdrop, guiding identification and skills assessment and monitoring…. all in a parent engagement paradigm. Game changers for smart, efficient service delivery. I consider Diane a mentor and colleague and will be forever grateful for the opportunities in life, her work and guidance.. afforded me. So glad to see you honored here!
May you continue to contribute and make a difference in our field.