Video training for parents of exceptional children

Abstract

Although the number of functional illiterates in Canada is astonishingly high, most training programs for parents of exceptional children require them to read a manual. The Baker manuals probably represent the most useful format, but are rated by the Flesch readability yardstick as requiring a Grade 13 education. In this study a series of 9 videotapes, which require minimal reading ability, was created, developed, implemented, and evaluated. These tapes were intended to teach parents of exceptional children instructional programming and behavior management skills. A total of 17 families attended a series of 9 group-training sessions. The parents represented a variety of educational backgrounds, although the majority had at least a Grade 10 education. Their children, who were all developmentally delayed, varied in abilities and handicaps. Although 5 families dropped out, among the remaining 12 families there was a significant improvement (p>0.01) in the parents’ knowledge of the principles, and all children but one learned at least one task from the commercially-produced RADEA curriculum. Seven families were videotaped teaching their children a skill, and the parents’ performances were scored. With one exception, all demonstrated implementation to criterion of at least 75% of the techniques pinpointed as target skills. In addition, all 12 families were interviewed at one month after completion of the course. Ninety-two percent were still teaching a skill, and 75% had generalized the behavioural principles to other behaviours. Parents who completed the course generally gave positive evaluations of both individual sessions and of course as a whole. More sessions on behavior management were frequently suggested. Families with severely limited education were too few to establish the unique effectiveness of the tapes for functionally illiterate parents. Nonetheless, suggestions are provided for improving the videotapes, and recommendations are made for similar studies in the future.