Family-centered early intervention. The perceptions of professionals

Area of Science:

• Early Childhood Education
• Special Education
• Audiology

Background:

• Parent-professional collaboration is crucial for early intervention services.
• Federal legislation, such as PL 99-457, mandates comprehensive services for young children with special needs.
• Understanding professional perspectives on parent involvement is key to effective service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine professionals' attitudes and opinions on parent-professional involvement.
• To assess the perceived importance of parent involvement in planning and implementing services for hearing-impaired infants and toddlers.
• To discuss the implications of these findings for the effective implementation of PL 99-457.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide survey was conducted.
• Data were collected from professionals working with hearing-impaired infants and toddlers and their families.
• Analysis focused on attitudes and opinions regarding parent-professional involvement.

Main Results:

• Professionals generally support parent-professional involvement in goal setting and service planning.
• Specific aspects of involvement may be perceived differently by professionals.
• Findings highlight areas for potential improvement in collaborative practices.

Conclusions:

• Professional attitudes suggest a positive foundation for parent-professional partnerships.
• Effective implementation of PL 99-457 requires addressing professionals' nuanced views on involvement.
• Recommendations are provided to enhance collaborative service delivery for hearing-impaired children and their families.