A parent-focused early intervention program for autism: who gets access?
BACKGROUND
The EarlyBird program is a psycho-educational early intervention program for parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). It aims to provide parents with skills to increase their child's communication and manage challenging behaviour using behavioural techniques.


METHODS
Two interlinked studies examined access to the EarlyBird program and barriers which may affect uptake. Study 1 investigated who accessed the EarlyBird program, and what factors influenced this choice. Study 2 was a qualitative investigation which focused on barriers to uptake for ethnic minority groups in New Zealand.


RESULTS
Findings indicated that approximately 85% of families eligible for the program do not participate. Non-membership of Autism New Zealand (the agency responsible for administering the program), ethnicity, and length of wait time were significant factors in non-participation.


CONCLUSIONS
A model of factors which may influence uptake of interventions targeting the families of children with a disability is proposed.
Department of Psychology, The University of Auckland, New Zealand. cbirkin@actrix.co.nz
Christina
C
Birkin
Angelika
A
Anderson
Fred
F
Seymour
Dennis W
DW
Moore
D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000208:ethnology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D009520:New Zealand; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology; D012189:Retrospective Studies