Open AccessParent and Staff Uncertainties Regarding the Philosophy of Early Intervention in a Preschool Autism Program
Author(s) -
Gindi Shahar
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
japanese psychological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1468-5884
pISSN - 0021-5368
DOI - 10.1111/jpr.12228
Subject(s) - autism , intervention (counseling) , psychology , premise , psychological intervention , developmental psychology , focus group , qualitative research , clinical psychology , psychiatry , linguistics , philosophy , social science , marketing , sociology , business
This study investigated the influences of dominant paradigms in the field of autism on the attitudes and beliefs of stakeholders in an early intervention (EI) program for children with autism. This EI program is based on a developmental approach with the premise that intensive intervention in young children (ages 2–6 years) can change their developmental trajectory given the brain's plasticity. This study was based on 48 interviews with parents and staff, as well as three focus groups with stakeholders at a program serving young children with autism. Qualitative data analysis revealed that parents and staff were most influenced by the curative aspect of the medical model while they did not commonly demonstrate adherence to the principles of EI. Parents also revealed conflicting attitudes simultaneously, as many of them expressed wishes for their children to be cured of autism while at the same time wanting that interventions would continue indefinitely.