Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Mary V. Kealy
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
caregivers, children with disabilities, daily notes, developmental support, early childhood development, early intervention, educational materials, evening workshops, families, family needs assessment, home visits, individualized family service plans, infants, parent education, parents, preworkshop survey, professional development, service delivery, staff workshops, toddlers, verbal communication, workshop evaluation, written materials, young children
Abstract
This applied dissertation was designed to provide more effective parent education in early intervention. One of the key components of early intervention is providing information to families in order to support and enhance their children’s development. Professionals who work with families and caregivers of young children with disabilities often do not have the training necessary in order to effectively and systematically disseminate such information.
The writer focused solution strategies towards both the parents/caregivers of children who received early intervention services as well as the early intervention professionals. In order to determine the individual needs of a particular family, a needs assessment was completed by the parent/caregiver. Educational services were then provided which included parent information that included the use of verbal and written materials as well as a specific format for ensuring that information was understood. The writer also provided several evening workshops to accommodate a group of parents. For professional staff, the writer provided monthly workshops during the regularly scheduled staff meeting. The topic for each workshop was determined by a preworkshop survey.
Results indicated that 7 of 9 outcomes were not met. Six of the outcomes were based on information gathered from a comparison between a survey presented to early intervention professionals prior to implementation and one completed after. One outcome was based on a review of the writer’s daily and monthly notes on the home visits. The last outcome was based on a review of Individualized Family Service Plans preprogram to post program. There is evidence to indicate that the methods of evaluation were flawed and consequently may not demonstrate the effectiveness of the program.