An Evaluation of the Influence of Early Intervention Services on Development of Children with Physical Disabilities in Ruiru Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya
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Date
2016-04
Authors
Nderitu, Hellen Wanjiru
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of early intervention services on
development of children with physical disabilities in Ruiru Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya.
The study adopted a descriptive survey design to select the respondents. The study targeted 8
heads of schools, 8 related service providers, 8 teachers, 160 parents and 160 children with
physical disabilities. Purposive sampling was used to select 4 schools selected due to availability
of communities which represent the range of variations on categories of physical disabilities, 4
heads of schools, 6 related service providers, 4 teachers, 1 EARC officers while stratified random
sampling was used to select 32 parents of children with physical disabilities totaling to 47
respondents. The researcher used questionnaires and interview guide to collect data. The data
collected were coded and analyzed manually. From the study findings, it was established that
majority of schools involved parents in guidance and counseling, making the children get
exposed to early intervention services. A correlation together with regression analyses were done
and established positive relationship between most early intervention services. The value of R
square of .928 showed that the model could accurately predict the outcome of the dependent
variable to an accuracy level of 92.8% as well as that the independent variables account for
92.8% changes in the dependent variable. From the ANOVA, the model is significant (P<.05,
df=5) and the value of R-Square=0.187 implies that a unit change in availability of intervention
services, programs offered in isolation or combination, rate of parent commitment, relationship
with personnel and teachers, related professionals’ involvement in the programs and services led
to an increase in the rate specific milestones for children after receiving early intervention
services by 18.7%.The study concluded that early intervention services affected the development
of children with disabilities, parental involvement impacted positively on early intervention
services. The study recommended that the Government to increase publication and dissemination
of information regarding the benefits of early intervention services for children with disabilities
Description
A research thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of master of education (special needs education) in the school of education Kenyatta University, April, 2016