Family and Professional Perspectives on Early Intervention

Abstract

This study presents findings from a series of focus groups conducted to explore parent and professional experiences and perspectives regarding inclusion and early intervention. The 45 focus group participants consisted of 13 parents of young children (birth through 5 years) with disabilities and 32 professionals representing service providers and administrators from an array of human services programs and agencies such as child care, early intervention, social services, public health, mental health, and public schools. The focus groups were organized to address (a) participants' awareness of early intervention services, (b) their perceptions of barriers and supports to inclusion, (c) their notions of service coordination, (d) their experiences with a statewide initiative to improve early childhood services for all children, and (e) their views of what an ideal system of early intervention would look like. Results revealed four overarching themes, most notable of which distinguish between parents' and professionals' abilities to describe the current early intervention system and to envision an ideal system of services.