Background: Occupational therapy (OT) plays an important role in providing early childhood interventions for children with developmental delay. While paediatric OT has long been guided by developmental principles, occupation-centred interventions have been promoted during the last decades, but no unifying definition exists about the core features. Aims/Objectives: The aim of this paper is to (a) identify and describe how occupation-based and occupation-focused interventions are demonstrated in paediatric occupational therapy for infants and young children with developmental delay, (b) identify which outcomes these interventions address and (c) analyse which outcome measures are used. Material and Methods: Eight databases and 15 OT journals were searched. Included studies were peer-reviewed primary sources published in English since 1999, selected based on the terminology proposed by Fisher (2013). Nineteen papers met inclusion criteria. Results: Eight occupation-based, two occupation-focused and nine occupation-based and occupation-focused interventions were identified. Outcomes related mainly to occupational and play skill acquisition as well as mastery of co-occupations. A limited number of occupation-focused outcome measures was implemented. Conclusions: Several occupation-centred interventions have been researched. Gaps in knowledge exist regarding measures taking into account (co-)occupational performance and young children’s perspective. Significance: OTs might want to expand their scope of practice to include all occupational domains and increase parent-delivered interventions in natural environments. Measures used should be relevant to occupational performance and take into account the parent’s and children’s view. Use of uniform terminology can aid identification of evidence and clear placement of OT among other professionals.

There is ample evidence indicating that maltreatment has deleterious effects on the development of infants and toddlers. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 2003 requires referrals from child welfare (CW) to IDEA Part C Early Intervention services to provide developmental assessments and services for children younger than three with substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect. Thus, this study aims to examine the effects of Part C services on the well-being of young children and their families in CW. This study used a secondary dataset, the National Survey of Children and Adolescent Well-Being II, to examine the research questions. The study results indicate that Part C services can help to decrease the decline and have greater improvement in the well-being outcomes of young children with and without substantiated cases in CW. Also, Part C services can enhance language and adaptive skills for children who are in need of developmental and learning services. However, the developmental and learning needs of those young children are under-identified and under-addressed by CW professionals. Ample research has emphasized that Part C services can lead to positive outcomes for children who are at risk for developmental delays or dysfunction. If those children and their families are not offered timely and appropriate early interventions, their difficulties can become more severe, which often leads to lifelong consequences. To address the developmental needs of those children as early as possible, this study’s findings indicate an urgent need to enhance CW professionals’ knowledge of early childhood development and intervention as well as to improve their capabilities to identify young children’ developmental needs. State administrators and policymakers should reexamine the existing relationship between CW and Part C to further establish a better referral-making system in response to the mandated referrals under CAPTA of 2003 and IDEA of 2004.

The aim of this study was to describe and analyse nine pedagogues understandings and experiences of preschools work with early childhood interventions and special education for children in need of extra support in their social skills, from a special educational approach. Data was collected by qualitative interviews and the collected material was analysed with the phenomenological approach.The result was analysed through systems theory and three perspectives on special education. The major result showed that attachment is a concept that all respondents seemed to think were important in preschool and the foundation of every child's development. Attachment should permeate the entire preschool environment. The definition of social skills in children was for example requirements of various abilities where components such as turn-taking, consideration,communication and empathy where important. Interaction and collaboration was also important.The play of the children was a good activity and a good opportunity to train social skills, as playsituations clearly demonstrates the abilities required and the unique needs of each child. It was important that educators were present and even participating, in play by introducing, guiding,explaining and interpreting rules in playsituations. Special education is about a systematic approach by including time for teachers to reflect and adapting communication, relationships and indoorenvironments in preschools.

Pilotstudie zur Effektivität der ambulanten ergotherapeutischen Intervention bei Kindern im Alter von 3 is 12 Jahren im Vorschul- und Grundschulalter. Stichprobe zur Ersterhebung 245 Kinder im Berliner Innenstadt Bezirk Schöneberg. Bei Nachuntersuchung 85 Kinder. Ergebnisse zeigen signifikante Verbesserungen in der allgemeinen Entwicklung der Kinder in den Bereichen Motorik, Verhalten. Flankierend wurde die Einschätzung der Eltern und Erzieher mit in die Untersuchung mit einbezogen. / Pilostudy to ambulant Occupaional Therapy in Pädiatric ( Ergotherapie) in Berlin Germany. Baseline Evaluation on 245 Childs in the age of 3 to 12 years. In the second Evaluation it was possible evaluate 85 Clients for questions in the motor and social Behaviour development. The Results show an significant Improvement in the asked Questions.

<p>This thesis is about special needs educational competence of educators working in collaborating teams within child and youth habilitation centres. The pedagogy of the moment stands for the decisions made by educators, based on their observations made when meeting the child in its different environments. These decisions build on educational theoretical and practical knowledge and experience developed through collaboration within interprofessional teams. The study was carried out through the use of focus groups consisting of professionals within different child and youth habilitation centres. The data consists of taped and transcribed focus groups discussions. Participants provided additional information concerning, estimations of the focus group session, their education and use of special needs educational assignments through additional questionnaires. The analysis focuses on how the educators conceptualise their competence and the dialogue in the group conversation. To facilitate the interactional analysis, a constructional key for the conversation was developed.</p><p>The educators within child and youth habilitation centers have not developed specific professional strategies, but instead, appear to have adapted a mission through structural means. Their competence appears contextually adapted and devel-oped within three spheres of activities. Their basic education is in the area of pre-school with theoretical focus on children’s normal development, pedagogical experience of working with groups of children, play and learning. On the basis of this background, together with experiences with toy library activities for children with disabilities, they have become one of the corner stone of child and youth habilitation centres of the 1980’s. In these centers, by tradition a mainly medical sphere of activity, they work in teams with family orientated habilitation, and have developed compe-tence for special needs educational intervention for children with disabilities. Special needs education is a supplementary field, which includes educators who are being trained for municipal operation. The educators use professional speech genres with colloquial language terminology, which is adjusted to its communicative context. The educators and their colleagues in the teams emphasize the importance of the educator bridging the medical, treatment and pedagogical contexts, together with a focus on child, parents and staff, at home and in preschool/school. A communicational genre has developed within the occupational group, where the educators reinforce rather than question each other when taking turns during interprofessional conversations. The competence of the educator is based on knowledge and experience when it comes to children, their development, play and learning. The thesis demonstrates that the main focus of the supplementary education increasingly lies on the pedagogical meeting with adults, mostly parents, around specific child. The practical pedagogical work for the child, playing as intervention as well as the specific special needs educational intervention is less conceptualised by the educators. They are requesting relevant research and theories to support their field of knowledge.</p>

This thesis is about special needs educational competence of educators working in collaborating teams within child and youth habilitation centres. The pedagogy of the moment stands for the decisions made by educators, based on their observations made when meeting the child in its different environments. These decisions build on educational theoretical and practical knowledge and experience developed through collaboration within interprofessional teams. The study was carried out through the use of focus groups consisting of professionals within different child and youth habilitation centres. The data consists of taped and transcribed focus groups discussions. Participants provided additional information concerning, estimations of the focus group session, their education and use of special needs educational assignments through additional questionnaires. The analysis focuses on how the educators conceptualise their competence and the dialogue in the group conversation. To facilitate the interactional analysis, a constructional key for the conversation was developed. The educators within child and youth habilitation centers have not developed specific professional strategies, but instead, appear to have adapted a mission through structural means. Their competence appears contextually adapted and devel-oped within three spheres of activities. Their basic education is in the area of pre-school with theoretical focus on children’s normal development, pedagogical experience of working with groups of children, play and learning. On the basis of this background, together with experiences with toy library activities for children with disabilities, they have become one of the corner stone of child and youth habilitation centres of the 1980’s. In these centers, by tradition a mainly medical sphere of activity, they work in teams with family orientated habilitation, and have developed compe-tence for special needs educational intervention for children with disabilities. Special needs education is a supplementary field, which includes educators who are being trained for municipal operation. The educators use professional speech genres with colloquial language terminology, which is adjusted to its communicative context. The educators and their colleagues in the teams emphasize the importance of the educator bridging the medical, treatment and pedagogical contexts, together with a focus on child, parents and staff, at home and in preschool/school. A communicational genre has developed within the occupational group, where the educators reinforce rather than question each other when taking turns during interprofessional conversations. The competence of the educator is based on knowledge and experience when it comes to children, their development, play and learning. The thesis demonstrates that the main focus of the supplementary education increasingly lies on the pedagogical meeting with adults, mostly parents, around specific child. The practical pedagogical work for the child, playing as intervention as well as the specific special needs educational intervention is less conceptualised by the educators. They are requesting relevant research and theories to support their field of knowledge.

Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-06-05T17:11:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Autorização.pdf: 127395 bytes, checksum: a332f9735c0ea41c73872df294e95d20 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-06-05T17:56:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Autorização.pdf: 127395 bytes, checksum: a332f9735c0ea41c73872df294e95d20 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-06-05T17:56:51Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Autorização.pdf: 127395 bytes, checksum: a332f9735c0ea41c73872df294e95d20 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-05T18:00:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Autorização.pdf: 127395 bytes, checksum: a332f9735c0ea41c73872df294e95d20 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Early Intervention is constituted as an important tool for prevention, identification and intervention in conditions that offer risks to child development. Since the emergence of the first programs dating back to the 1960s, there were a number of conceptual and theoretical developments which culminated in the recognition of the systemic, ecological and family-centered model, as it produces better effects. In Brazil, the Early Intervention practices appear to develop highly focused on the needs of children, prioritizing interventions guided in their problems and developed from a rehabilitative model. It also observes that, despite the relevance of the theme, the scientific literature is scarce, which points to the need for further investigation. In this context, this study aimed to identify the practices developed by the Early Intervention services for children from zero to five years, in the state of São Paulo. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach. Participants were selected through non-probability sampling for convenience, in the case of professional staff working in services for children between zero and five years, located in the area covered by the Programa São Paulo pela Primeiríssima Infância. The study was developed in two stages, the first identification and characterization of early intervention services and the second identification of early intervention practices developed for services previously selected from the first stage. Data were collected through questionnaires (first stage) and interview (second stage). For the analysis of data from the questionnaires was used the methodology of descriptive statistics and analysis of the interviews content analysis methodology, the thematic analysis mode. The results of this study corroborate with the descriptions in the national scientific literature showing that Early Intervention practices remain being developed within the rehabilitation model, geared to the deficits presented by the children. In this context, the participation of families in the services proved to be limited because of the hegemonic role played by professionals in relation to the intervention process. It also revealed the existence of differences between the recommended practices in the child care networks and those that, in fact, are developed by the services. Regarding the existence of practices implemented in the natural context of the child, the results showed that these have been limited to observations and guidelines. Finally, the study identified a number of gaps in the process of training and continuing education of professionals that working in Early Intervention, a factor that can directly impact on the quality and the implemented practice model. From these results, the possibilities and challenges for the approximation between current practices and those recommended internationally are discussed, based on IP literature and national child care policies. / A Intervenção Precoce constitui-se como uma importante ferramenta para prevenção, identificação e intervenção sobre condições que ofereçam riscos ao desenvolvimento infantil. Desde o surgimento dos primeiros programas, datados da década de 1960, ocorreram uma série de transformações conceituais e teóricas, que culminaram no reconhecimento do modelo sistêmico, ecológico e centrado na família, como o que produz melhores efeitos. No Brasil, as práticas de Intervenção Precoce parecem desenvolver-se eminentemente centradas nas necessidades das crianças, priorizando intervenções pautadas em suas problemáticas e desenvolvidas a partir de um modelo reabilitativo. Observa-se ainda que, apesar da relevância da temática, a literatura científica é escassa, o que aponta para a necessidade de maiores investigações. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo teve por objetivo identificar as práticas desenvolvidas pelos serviços de Intervenção Precoce destinados a crianças de zero a cinco anos, no estado de São Paulo. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo e exploratório, com abordagem quali-quantitativa. Os participantes foram selecionados por meio de amostragem não-probabilística por conveniência, tratando-se de equipes de profissionais que atuam em serviços destinados a crianças entre zero e cinco anos, localizados na área de abrangência do Programa São Paulo pela Primeiríssima Infância. O estudo desenvolveu-se em duas etapas, sendo a primeira de identificação e caracterização dos serviços de Intervenção Precoce e a segunda de identificação das práticas de Intervenção Precoce desenvolvidas por serviços previamente selecionados a partir da primeira etapa. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários (primeira etapa) e entrevista (segunda etapa). Para a análise dos dados dos questionários foi empregada a metodologia de estatística descritiva e para análise das entrevistas a metodologia de análise de conteúdo, na modalidade análise temática. Os resultados desse estudo corroboram com as descrições apresentadas na literatura científica nacional, evidenciando que as práticas de Intervenção Precoce permanecem sendo desenvolvidas dentro do modelo de reabilitação, mais claramente voltado aos déficits/diagnósticos apresentados pelas crianças. Nesse contexto, a participação das famílias nos serviços mostrou-se limitada em virtude do papel hegemônico assumido pelos profissionais em relação ao processo de intervenção. Evidenciou-se ainda a existência de divergências entre as práticas preconizadas no âmbito das redes de atenção à criança e aquelas que, de fato, são desenvolvidas pelos serviços. Em relação à existência de práticas implementadas nos contextos naturais da criança, os resultados demonstraram que essas têm se limitado à observações e orientações. Finalmente, o estudo identificou algumas lacunas existentes no processo de formação e formação continuada dos profissionais que atuam em Intervenção Precoce, fator que pode impactar diretamente sobre a qualidade e o modelo de prática implementado. A partir desses resultados, discute-se, com base na literatura da IP e nas políticas nacionais de atenção à criança, as possibilidades e desafios para a aproximação entre as práticas atualmente desenvolvidas e aquelas recomendadas internacionalmente.

This research develops and validates a task-specific parenting self-efficacy measure focussing on the following domains: showing affection and empathy, engaging in play, facilitating routines, establishing discipline strategies, providing appropriate learning and development activities, and promoting communication interaction. Self-efficacy can be described as a person’s belief in his or her ability to successfully complete tasks. Self-efficacy beliefs are among the most consistent predictors of success and performance in many contexts. As a result, self-efficacy has been investigated across a variety of domains. Parenting self-efficacy can be defined as judgement which a parent has regarding his or her ability to successfully complete the tasks related to parenting a child. Increasing parents’ competence in raising and supporting their children throughout life is regarded as one of the cornerstones of adaptive parenting. As improving parenting self-efficacy has been known to have a positive effect on parenting competence it has been incorporated as a component of early childhood intervention programmes in recent years. Numerous self-efficacy instruments are currently being used to measure self-efficacy within the parenting literature. In the development of this particular measure, challenges surrounding the conceptualization and operationalization of parenting self-efficacy have been investigated. The parenting sense of efficacy instrument (P-SEMI) was developed from theoretical frameworks within both parenting and self-efficacy domains. A classification for the definition and development of parenting self-efficacy measures is proposed. The relevant theoretical constructs are operationalized in order to identify their observable indicators (discrete parenting tasks). The main aim of this empirical research is therefore to validate the P-SEMI by establishing the internal consistency reliability, as well as face, content, construct, and differential validity for the measure. The design used is a descriptive survey type design with three phases. Phase 1 established validity in the conceptual domain. The measure was developed and content validity was investigated by a panel of subject matter experts. Phase 2 established validity in the methodological domain. During this phase the measure was administered to two groups of mothers; mothers of children with a disability, and mothers of typically developing children. Seventy-nine mothers participated in this phase of the study. Two additional established measures were used as convergent measures, namely the general self-efficacy scale (which is a global self-efficacy measure) and the parenting sense of competence scale (which is a domain-general measure). Based on the data collected from these participants, content, construct and differential validity was established. Phase 3 established initial validity in the substantive domain. Results indicated that the P-SEMI is a reliable and valid task-specific measure for assessing the level of parenting self-efficacy of mothers of young children. The P-SEMI is moderately correlated to both of the existing self-efficacy measures used as convergent measures. The newly developed task-specific measure was the only measure which was able to differentiate between the levels of parenting self-efficacy. As a result this measure is applicable as a clinical tool to measure parenting self-efficacy, and can be used to conduct further research within the field of parenting self-efficacy. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication / unrestricted

The needs of the severely disabled, especially in communities where there is a paucity of professional manpower inspired this research aiming at the refinement and validation of a play package consisting of a daily multiple measurement instrument and a package of play activities for the facilitation of communication-related behaviours. This intervention programme is based on theoretical underpinnings derived from various scientific disciplines' explanations of sensorimotor, cognitive, communication and social-emotional development, as well as the role of play as a facilitator of childhood development. Within this theoretical context a model for the development of communication-related behaviours as adaptive responses is put forward. Through a process of operationalisation of the relevant constructs, observable behavioural indicators are identified and applied to the developmental needs of the intellectually impaired. Play is described as a tool for the facilitation and measurement of communication-related behaviours and within this framework an authentic daily multiple measurement instrument (DMMI) was developed and a package of play activities (previously developed) refined for validation through experimentation. The main aim of the empirical research was to validate the play package for the facilitation of communication-related skills by the refinement of the play package consisting of specifically selected activities and presentation methods during a pre-experimental phase, as well as experimentation to establish a cause-effect relationship between the activities and changes in single, gradually acquired behaviours of children with intellectual impairments. In the pre-experimental phase face and content validity were investigated by a group of experts who evaluated the daily multiple measurement instrument and the package of play activities, as well as the audio-visual recordings of the measurement and treatment of intellectually impaired children in two pilot studies. During the experimental phase construct and convergent validity were investigated. Data were collected from five intellectually impaired participants over an eight week period in which week 1 was used for pre-intervention measurements, weeks 2, 3 and 4 for intervention, week 5 for post-intervention measurements, weeks 6 and 7 for a period of withdrawal and week 8 for post-withdrawal measurements. External raters were involved to assure reliability and three additional authentic measurement instruments were included for the establishment of convergent validity. Based on the findings of the research face, content, construct and convergent validity of the play package was established, thus proving that the daily multiple measurement instrument measures the behaviour that it claims to measure and the package of play activities facilitates the development of communication-related behaviours that it claims to facilitate. A valid and reliable play package, catering for the individual needs of the heterogeneous population of disabled children, was thus established. The play package is structured in such a way that it can be applied by any member of a transdisciplinary team, and even (with some prior training) by non-professional caregivers and parents, thus alleviating the burden on a handful of professional therapists who cannot cope with the needs of the large population of severely disabled children. / Dissertation (PhD (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (CAAC) / unrestricted

(in English) This diploma thesis aims to map in detail the profession of an early childhood intervention counselor and to find out professional demands and personality prerequisites, which are necessary for its performance. The first part of the thesis deals with the collection of theoretical knowledge about the early childhood intervention social prevention service from its beginnings in the Czech Republic to the present state. It also defines the clientele of the service, which is a family with a child with a disability or at risk of development under the age of seven years. In the research part, based on an analysis of the results of four methods, which are a questionnaire, a time snapshot of the day, a semi-structured interview and a critical incidents technique, the work analysis of early childhood intervention is compiled. The whole work is concluded by the construction of an educational program, which is based on the research findings and the created work analysis.