ERIC Number: EJ1465719
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2325-7466
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Improving Transitions from Early Intervention (EI) to School: Strategies to Decrease Caregiver Stress and Increase Collaboration between Families and School Professionals
Kristina Rios; Molly Buren
Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, p119-129 2025
Early intervention (EI) plays a crucial role in supporting infants and toddlers with developmental needs and helping families understand how to meet their child's needs. However, once a child reaches the age of three, these services come to an end and families must transition to school services. Surprisingly, there is a lack of research focusing on how families perceive this transition from EI to school services. To fill this gap in the literature, a qualitative study was conducted, involving semi-structured interviews with 14 parents. This study aimed to explore the transition process and the experiences of parents during this crucial phase. The results indicate that parents generally had positive experiences with EI, particularly with the EI team. However, a noteworthy finding was that parents reported heightened stress levels during the transition from EI to school services. They often relied on EI and school professionals to navigate the system and secure services, with limited involvement in the Individualized Education Program (IEP)process. These findings have important implications for both research and practice in the field.
Descriptors: Young Children, Early Intervention, School Transition, Parent School Relationship, Parent Attitudes, Individualized Education Programs, Students with Disabilities, Educational Legislation, Equal Education, Federal Legislation, Child Caregivers, Anxiety, Caregiver Attitudes
American Academy of Special Education Professionals. 3642 East Sunnydale Drive, Chandler Heights, AZ 85142. Tel: 800-754-4421; Fax: 800-424-0371; e-mail: editor@aasep.org; Web site: http://www.aasep.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A