The COVID-19 pandemic: The evaluation of the emergency remote parent training program based on at-home support for children with down syndrome


Celik S., Tomris G., Tuna D. M.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW, vol.133, 2022 (SSCI) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 133
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.106325
  • Journal Name: CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, ASSIA, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL, EBSCO Education Source, Education Abstracts, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Keywords: COVID-19, Down syndrome, Emergency remote education, Family empowerment, Family support, Naturalistic teaching, Evaluative case study, EARLY-CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION, YOUNG-CHILDREN, SPECIAL-EDUCATION, AUTISM, TURKEY, STYLE, COMMUNICATION, DISABILITIES, ENGAGEMENT, TELEHEALTH
  • Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of emergency remote training programs for young children with Down syndrome, learning difficulties, and severe health problems and their parents became a requirement. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of the "applied emergency remote training program", prepared to address the needs of parents with children with Down syndrome and to offer them at-home support. It is an evaluative case study conducted with 11 parents of 11-35 months old children with Down syndrome. The findings demonstrated that the program could be conducted in a home environment, it improved the interactional behavior of both parents and children, reduced the number of difficult routines, and was considered as an educational, instructive, and band-aid solution. Issues such as the development of systematic psycho-social support systems that increase full participation and motivation of parents in distance education programs are important during extreme times such as the pandemic. Difficulties in online data collection, the employment of coaching and counseling systems in information maintenance, individualization of the program, the improvement of the interactivity in the program, and the development of applied training programs on different topics still wait for a solution.