Topics in Early Childhood Special Education · 2004 · 40 citations · 20 references
EducationEarly Childhood EducationSpecial EducationEarly InterventionFamily EngagementFamily StudiesFamily-based InterventionsFamily-centered InterventionParent EducationParent InvolvementParent-child InteractionParental ParticipationEarly Childhood Parent InterventionEarly Intervention SupportFamily Systems PerspectiveFamily-centered CollaborationFocus Group Data CollectionFocus Group DiscussionsParent-professional PartnershipsPart C Early Intervention
One of the goals of a family-centered approach in early intervention is to equally involve family members as active partners with professionals. This article describes one state's model of family involvement using parents of young children with disabilities as parent educators in the Part C system. Qualitative focus group data were collected with the parent educators over 6 time periods and revealed their changing perceptions about their roles as parent educators, as well as their perceived challenges and successes. Parent educators ultimately came to see themselves as “professionals” working to bring a family perspective to the early intervention system.
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