An Unfulfilled Promise: A Meta-Synthesis of the Experiences of Families Navigating Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) Services

• In Event: Supporting Special Needs

Abstract

To address the longstanding inequitable outcomes experienced by families navigating Early Intervention and Early Childhood special Education (EI/ECSE) services, a better understanding of these families’ experiences is needed to gain insights into the challenges parents face and the supports that facilitate positive outcomes. To collectively understand families’ experiences, we conducted a metasynthesis identifying 15 empirical qualitative studies (n = 252 parents and their children) published between 2004-2021 that met the criteria for this review. We conducted a thematic synthesis, informed by frames of intersectionality, disability critical race theory, and Bourdieu’s capital theory. Despite EI/ECSE services being philosophically and legally grounded in family-centered principles, families rarely experienced it.

Authors

• Ruby Batz, University of Nevada - Reno

• Asha Yadav, University of Florida