Journal Article

Predictors of Access to Early Support in Families of Children with Suspected or Diagnosed Developmental Disabilities in the United Kingdom

Totsika, Vasiliki, Hastings, Richard P., Sapiets, Suzi J.

2024

Overview

This study examined predictors of access to early support amongst families of 0-6-year-old children with suspected or diagnosed developmental disabilities in the United Kingdom. Using survey data from 673 families, multiple regression models were fitted for three outcomes: intervention access, access to early support sources, and unmet need for early support sources. Developmental disability diagnosis and caregiver educational level were associated with intervention access and early support access. Early support access was also associated with child physical health, adaptive skills, caregiver ethnicity, informal support, and statutory statement of special educational needs. Unmet need for early support was associated with economic deprivation, the number of household caregivers, and informal support. Multiple factors influence access to early support. Key implications include enhancing processes for formal identification of need, addressing socioeconomic disparities (e.g., reducing inequalities, increasing funding for services), and providing more accessible services (e.g., coordinating support across services, flexible service provision).

• Publisher: Springer US,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Academic achievement / Access / Address forms / Autism / Behavioral Science and Psychology / Caregivers / Child and School Psychology / Child Development / Child Health / Children / Children & youth / Departments / Deprivation / Developmental Delays / Developmental disabilities / Disability Identification / Disability studies / Early intervention / Economic deprivation / Economic factors / Education reform / Educational attainment / Educational Change / Educational Development / Educational needs / Ethnicity / Families & family life / Family Involvement / Health Needs / Health status / Individual Needs / Inequality / Intellectual disabilities / Intervention / Medical diagnosis / Mental Disorders / Neurosciences / Original Paper / Pediatrics / People with disabilities / Periodicals / Physical Health / Psychology / Public Health / Regression analysis / Respite Care / School Policy / Services / Special needs children / Special Needs Students / Young Children