Early Intervention for Children with Disability: The Parameters Necessary for Effective Implementation.

Mgr. Joy Sade OKOYE

Doctoral thesis

Early Intervention for Children with Disability: the Parameters necessary for Effective Implementation in Nigeria.

Abstract:

Early intervention has become a global and cultural issue because of the different indigenous early intervention programmes, government policies or legislation, parents and the involvement of professionals. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the parameters needed for effective implementation of early intervention for children with disabilities. For the aim of the study to be achieved, the research investigates the influence or effect of the child-family centred approach of early intervention, professional team involvement, legislation or policy for early intervention, programmes and services as parameters for the effective practice of early intervention. Four research questions were posed, and four hypotheses formulated for the study. Sample survey design was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select 204 participants (40.7 percent male and 59.3 percent female). The Likert scale questionnaire with 23 items and an interview guide were used as the instrument for data collection. To test the hypotheses, and to ascertain whether to accept or reject them, the data collated from the Likert scale were analysed using One Sample T-test in the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 percent level of significance with p <.001 and 203 degrees of freedom. The results reveal that the child-family centred approach of early intervention influences intervention for children with disabilities. Professional team involvement as well as legislation/policy influence the intervention for children with disabilities. Programmes and services of early intervention greatly impact intervention of children with disabilities. The study concluded that the child-family centred approach, professional team involvement, legislation or law, programmes and services of early intervention are the necessary factors that need to be in place if intervention must be meaningful for development, growth, and learning of children with disabilities. As such, government and professionals should increase public awareness of the benefits of early intervention for all children with disabilities or who are at risks for developmental disabilities. Professionals should collaborate with parents to the latter of their children's intervention no matter their views and opinions. Public policy for funding should be enacted, for adequate accessibility of early intervention programmes for parents and families with low income.

Abstract:

Early intervention has become a global and cultural issue because of the different indigenous early intervention programmes, government policies or legislation, parents and the involvement of professionals. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the parameters needed for effective implementation of early intervention for children with disabilities. For the aim of the study to be achieved, the research investigates the influence or effect of the child-family centred approach of early intervention, professional team involvement, legislation or policy for early intervention, programmes and services as parameters for the effective practice of early intervention. Four research questions were posed, and four hypotheses formulated for the study. Sample survey design was adopted for the study. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select 204 participants (40.7 percent male and 59.3 percent female). The Likert scale questionnaire with 23 items and an interview guide were used as the instrument for data collection. To test the hypotheses, and to ascertain whether to accept or reject them, the data collated from the Likert scale were analysed using One Sample T-test in the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 percent level of significance with p <.001 and 203 degrees of freedom. The results reveal that the child-family centred approach of early intervention influences intervention for children with disabilities. Professional team involvement as well as legislation/policy influence the intervention for children with disabilities. Programmes and services of early intervention greatly impact intervention of children with disabilities. The study concluded that the child-family centred approach, professional team involvement, legislation or law, programmes and services of early intervention are the necessary factors that need to be in place if intervention must be meaningful for development, growth, and learning of children with disabilities. As such, government and professionals should increase public awareness of the benefits of early intervention for all children with disabilities or who are at risks for developmental disabilities. Professionals should collaborate with parents to the latter of their children's intervention no matter their views and opinions. Public policy for funding should be enacted, for adequate accessibility of early intervention programmes for parents and families with low income.

Keywords

Early intervention, children with disability, child-family approach, legislation/policy, professionals, programmes and services.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 23. 8. 2018

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 18. 10. 2018

PALACKÝ UNIVERSITY OLOMOUC

Faculty of Education

Doctoral programme / field:
Special Education / Special Education