Parents' reports of their involvement in an Iranian parent-based early intervention programme for children with ASD

Abstract

Based on the findings of several preliminary studies on support and services for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents in Iran, an early intervention programme called Omid was established. This programme is based on the social model of disability. To promote the Omid resource kit, which is a component of the ‘Omid Early Intervention Programme’, a group of Iranian parents (N = 39) of children with ASD at the first stage of diagnosis were recruited to ascertain their thoughts on parental engagement in the intervention programme. Parents' thoughts about the resource kit, the parent workshop and the professional visit at home were collected through notes which the parents presented to the researchers. Thematic analysis of the notes and comments showed that parental engagement in the early intervention process through a resource kit was welcomed within a society in which service provision for ASD is sparse and support for children with ASD and their parents is lacking.

Keywords:

• parents’ report
• early intervention
• autism spectrum disorders
• parent-focused programmes
• Iran

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr Greg Kelly Reader in Occupational Therapy from the University of Ulster for his guidance and comments on the final draft of the paper, the participating families and all those who helped them in the different stages of the study.

Note on contributors

Sayyed Ali Samadi is an independent researcher in the field of ASD and parental-focused early intervention programmes in developing countries. He received his PhD in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities from the University of Ulster. He is appointed as the honorary fellow with the Institute of Nursing Research, centre for intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Ameneh Mahmoodizadeh received her MA in Psychology and Education of students with special needs. She works in the Department of Testing and Evaluation in the Iranian Special Education Organisation. Her main focus and area of interest is evaluation and placement of students with autism in the early stages of their admission in the formal educational system.