ERIC Number: EJ1473854
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0271-1214
EISSN: EISSN-1538-4845
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Complex Medical Needs and Homelessness: A Case Study of the Natural Environment
Crystal S. Williams1; Grace E. Sawyer2; Michaelene M. Ostrosky2
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, v45 n1 p7-20 2025
Infants and toddlers with complex medical needs are likely to receive early intervention (EI) services, which take place in children's natural environments (NEs). Little is known about the NE of children with complex medical needs or how their EI services are implemented in consideration of their intersectional identities. In this case study, we explored the NE of one child with complex medical needs who was experiencing homelessness and how his EI services were embedded in his NE. We used multiple qualitative methods, including observations, interviews, document review, auto-photography, and photo-elicitation. Using thematic analysis, we developed five themes from the data: (a) description of the child's NE, (b) the family's planning and intentionality, (c) positivity and acceptance, (d) family expertise versus provider expertise, and (e) a continuum of practices. Implications relate to practices that align with a family's unique circumstances and the need for research that addresses a family's intersectional experiences navigating disability.
Descriptors: Infants, Toddlers, Homeless People, Intersectionality, Disabilities, Health Services, Access to Health Care, Photography, Early Intervention, Family Planning, Poverty, Home Visits, Allied Health Personnel, Assistive Technology, Therapy, Family Relationship, Physicians
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) (ED/OSERS); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (DHHS/ACL)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: H325H190004; 90ARCP0008
Department of Education Funded: Yes
Author Affiliations: 1The Ohio State University Nisonger Center, Columbus, OH, USA; 2University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA