Internet-based intervention training for parents of young children with disabilities: a promising service-delivery model

Abstract

Efficient early intervention (EI) services are required to serve the needs of young children with disabilities and the needs of their families. Effective EI includes family-centred practices, evidence-based interventions, parent involvement/training, and delivery in children's natural environments. Due to the challenges of providing home-based EI for children with disabilities, there is a need to identify alternative service models. One possible alternative service-delivery model is training and coaching parents from a distance, via Internet technologies. The purposes of this paper are to (a) describe the challenges related to home-based EI services, (b) discuss the potential advantages of using Internet-based interventions as a supplemental service model, and (c) describe current Internet-based interventions by reviewing the literature related to training parents of young children with autism, from a distance via the Internet.

Keywords:

• early intervention
• parent training
• technology

Notes on contributors

Hedda Meadan, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is an assistant professor at the Department of Special Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr Meadan areas of interest include social-communication behaviour of young children with autism and other developmental disabilities and families of individuals with disabilities.

Marcus E. Daczewitz is a doctoral candidate in the Special Education Department at Illinois State University. Mr Daczewitz’ areas of interest include parents/family members as service providers and social-communication of young children with developmental disabilities.