Parent Therapist Partnership Survey - Illinois Early Childhood Special Education

This study seeks to examine the early childhood special education (ECSE) therapy involvement experiences, needs, and recommendations of parents and caregivers, focusing particularly on caregivers of color (referred to as parents), whose children with developmental disabilities recently transitioned into ECSE. This research uses focus groups and surveys to answer four questions: (1) What are parents of colors' experiences participating in their children’s ECSE therapies? (2) What barriers do parents experience that impact their ability to be involved in their child’s ECSE therapies? (3) What recommendations do parents have for providers and schools to improve opportunities for parents to be involved in their child’s ECSE therapies? And (4) How do parent and child demographic factors, identities, and resources influence parents’ ability to participate in their child's ECSE therapies? These findings may inform the development of an equity-focused intervention that increases parents’ ability to participate in ECSE therapies. Aim 1 seeks to conduct focus groups, led by parents with lived experience, to explore the nuances of interactions with ECSE therapists as well as to identify barriers to and recommendations for increased parent involvement. Aim 2 seeks to collect survey data from focus group participants to provide complementary insight into participants’ demographic factors, their child’s needs, their experiences of caring for their child with a developmental disability, and their child’s service access. Synthesized findings provide nuanced insights into parents of colors' experiences with ECSE therapies and identify actionable steps to improve quality of care delivered to children and their parents in ECSE settings.