Parents’ Experiences Navigating Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education Services: A Qualitative Metasynthesis

Abstract

Existing literature documents the importance and difficulty of serving families under a family-centered approach in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE). However, less is known about the collective systematic experiences of those families. Through a qualitative metasynthesis of 15 empirical studies, we unveiled how EI/ECSE systems reproduced and/or reduced inequitable practices and that the promise of a family-centered approach is not experienced by all families and children. At a macro-level, a series of structural (e.g., racism, ableism) and social (e.g., access to various capital) factors shaped access to and the quality of services. At a micro-level, a series of facilitators (e.g., parents as experts) and barriers (e.g., disrespectful interactions) shaped everyday access to services and opportunities for meaningful collaboration between parents and service providers. Current gaps in the literature, implications for policy and practice, and recommendations for future research are addressed.