Examining the current practices of the individualized family services plan with young children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Early intervention programs play an important role in supporting young children with disabilities and developmental disorders in acquiring various life skills before they reach school-going age. The present study aims to examine the current practices of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for young children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia using a quantitative design. A sample of 212 early intervention providers—males (n = 35; 16.5%) and females (n = 177; 83.5%)—were surveyed. The IFSP questionnaire was based on Maryland State’s IFSP form. The order of the dimensions employed in the study from the highest to the lowest was as follows: initial data, the present level of the child’s development, permissions, early intervention services, information about the child and the family, and transition services. The findings of the study revealed that the current practices of the IFSP for young children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia were at the ‘often’ level.

Keywords:

• special education
• early intervention
• individualized family service plan
• Saudi Arabia
• early childhood special education
• development
• disability
• young children

Conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University under grant number RGP-1440-008.