What is it about?

Relationships, both personal and professional, are dynamic. Collaboration and relationships underpin successful early intervention disability services. The findings show that the process of these relationships happens through an overlapping five stage developmental trajectory. The proposed model can be used as a tool to provide an enhanced focus to all involved by helping all to recognize and explain where they are on the developmental journey and where they are going. This model can be used as a tool to provide an enhanced focus to all involved by helping all participants recognize and explain where they are on the developmental journey in EI and where they are going.

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Why is it important?

Establishing positive, trusting relationships between professionals and families takes time and their value in intervention is widely acknowledged. This research proposes a 5 stage model for relationship developmental in early intervention disability services. Recognizing and acknowledging where each participant is at on the relationship trajectory will facilitate the development and progression of the relationship. The model is a shared model for all involved in early intervention and it respects individuality.

Perspectives

I hope this article helps families of children with disabilities and professionals who support these families to understand their journey together is a process. If we acknowledge that there are stages in the development of the relationship and recognise that all people in the relationship may be at different stages or at the same stage. Acknowledging what stage each person in the relationship is at will let the early intervention relationship journey begin, progress and end smoothly.

Clare Carroll
National University of Ireland Galway

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: A trajectory of relationship development for early intervention practice for children with developmental disabilities, International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, March 2016, Mark Allen Group,
DOI: 10.12968/ijtr.2016.23.3.131.
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