FAMILY AND PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON EARLY INTERVENTION - AN EXPLORATION USING FOCUS GROUPS

This study presents findings from a series of focus groups conducted t o explore parent and professional experiences and perspectives regardi ng inclusion and early intervention. The 45 focus group participants c onsisted of 13 parents of young children (birth through 5 years) with disabilities and 32 professionals representing service providers and a dministrators from an array of human services programs and agencies su ch as child care, early intervention, social services, public health, mental health, and public schools. The focus groups were organized to address (a) participants' awareness of early intervention services, (b ) their perceptions of barriers and supports to inclusion, (c) their n otions of service coordination, id) their experiences with a statewide initiative to improve early childhood services for all children, and (e) their views of what an ideal system of early intervention would lo ok like. Results revealed four overarching themes, most notable of whi ch distinguish between parents' and professionals' abilities to descri be the current early intervention system and to envision an ideal syst em of services.