Counselling and supporting parents of children with developmental delay: a research evaluation

This paper describes an evaluation study of a home-based, family-focussed counselling scheme providing support for English-speaking and Bangladeshi families of children with intellectual or multiple disabilities. Mothers and children in the intervention groups showed significant and positive changes compared to randomly allocated controls. The greatest benefits were derived by the more deprived and initially less well-supported Bangladeshi families. Mothers changed positively in ratings of perceived support and family functioning, and in their constructions of their child, themselves, husbands and family relationships. Although systematic teaching was not included, their children also showed improvements in developmental progress and behaviour problems.