Family-Centred Approaches in Early Intervention Programmes for Children with Developmental Disabilities in Ogun State

This study evaluates family-centred approaches in early intervention programmes for children with developmental disabilities in Ogun State, South West Nigeria. Family-centred practice, which positions the family as the primary context for child development and the central partner in planning and delivering interventions, is the dominant evidence-based paradigm in early childhood intervention globally. In Nigerian early intervention settings, however, family involvement is often tokenistic, characterised by one-way information sharing rather than genuine partnership. Using a programme evaluation design, the study examines three early intervention centres in Abeokuta, assessing the extent and quality of family-centred practice using the Family-Centred Practices Scale adapted for Nigerian contexts. Data are collected through family interviews, provider surveys, and document reviews of intervention plans. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis are applied to quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The study examines family participation in assessment, goal setting, and home programme implementation, as well as perceived family empowerment and satisfaction. Findings are expected to reveal that services are professionally directed with limited genuine partnership, and that families from lower socioeconomic backgrounds experience the greatest marginalisation in the intervention process. Recommendations include training intervention staff in family-centred communication and developing family resource guides in Yoruba and other local languages to promote informed family engagement. Keywords: family-centred approaches, early intervention, developmental disabilities, Ogun State, family partnership.