Abstract:
The EarlyBird programme is a psycho-educational early intervention programme for parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). It aims to provide parents with skills to increase child communication, and better manage their child’s behaviour by using behavioural techniques. EarlyBird has been recently introduced into New Zealand as a government funded programme. The three interlinked studies reported here examined the barriers which may affect potential participants’ uptake of the EarlyBird programme. Study One estimated the numbers of New Zealanders who have a diagnosis of ASD by ethnicity, and compared this the numbers who participate in the programme. Study Two attempted to find out who accesses the EarlyBird programme, and to determine what factors influence the choice to participate. Study Three focused on whether there are particular barriers to uptake of parent focused early intervention for New Zealand ethnic minority groups. Findings from the three studies indicated that, in general, differences in participation in EarlyBird relate to: (1) membership or non-membership of Autism New Zealand - the agency responsible for administering the programme; (2) issues connected with gaining a diagnosis of ASD; (3) the timing of EarlyBird publicity materials relative to diagnosis; (4) the varying cultural needs of minority groups; and (5) practical barriers such as inconvenient session times, Iack of childcare and difficulties in accessing venues. As a result of these findings, and taking into consideration the barriers to participation reported in the literature, a model of the factors which may influence uptake of family focused interventions targeting families of children with disability is suggested.
