Early intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina- a description of a model implemented in Zenica-Doboj Canton

Abstract

Early intervention (EI) is widely recognized system of providing supports to children aged 0-5 years of age. Current evidence suggests that EI is the most efficacious method for reducing and potentially eliminating the symptoms of developmental disabilities. It is also widely used with children at risk or with children who already have some developmental delay. Unfortunately, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) does not have a well-developed system of EI. The goal of this paper is to describe the current trends in the field of EI in BIH and to describe one model of EI provision that is implemented in Zenica-Doboj Canton. There is a strong interest in creating the efficient system of early intervention in BIH. The different ideas about EI are coming from different stakeholders in the field, from Nongovernmental Organizations, UNICEF, local ministries of health, social welfare and education to the educational institutions providing services and supports to children with disabilities and their families. BIH needs to expand the system of EI and to improve the educational and rehabilitation opportunities for children with developmental disabilities. Centers, as the one described in this paper, need to be established across BIH.

Keywords

• Early intervention,Bosnia and Herzegovina,children with disabilities

References

1. Aldridge, J., Kilgo, J. L., & Bruton, A. B. (2015). Transforming transdisciplinary early intervention and early childhood special education through intercultural education. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 7(2), 343-360.
2. Aytekin, C., Bayhan, P. (2016). Developing the home-based intervention program: A case study. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 8(1), 62-82.
3. Bruder, M. B. (2010). Early childhood intervention: A promise to children and families for their future. Exceptional Children, 76(3), 339-355.
4. Čuturić, N. (1988). RTČ Razvojni test Čuturić, ljestvica psihičkog razvoja male djece (Developmental test Cuturic- scale of psychological development of small children). Ljubljana: Zavod za produktivnost dela.
5. Dawson, G., Rogers, S., Munson, J., Smith, M., Winter, J., Greenson, J., ... & Varley, J. (2010). Randomized, controlled trial of an intervention for toddlers with autism: the Early Start Denver Model. Pediatrics, 125(1), e17-e23.
6. Gething, L. (1997). Sources of double disadvantage for people with disabilities living in remote and rural areas of New South Wales, Australia.Disability & Society, 12(4), 513-531.
7. Grantham-McGregor, S., Cheung, Y. B., Cueto, S., Glewwe, P., Richter, L., Strupp, B., & International Child Development Steering Group. (2007). Developmental potential in the first 5 years for children in developing countries. The lancet, 369(9555), 60-70.
8. Guralnick, M. J. (1997). Effectiveness of early intervention for vulnerable children: A developmental perspective. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 102(4), 319-345.

9. Guralnick, M. J. (2016). Early intervention for children with intellectual disabilities: An update. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities.
10. Heckman, J. J. (2006). Skill formation and the economics of investing in disadvantaged children. Science, 312(5782), 1900-1902.
11. Halpern, Robert. "Lack of effects for home-based early intervention? Some possible explanations. " American journal of Orthopsychiatry 54, no. 1 (1984): 33-42.
12. Igrić, L., & Fulgosi-Masnjak, R. (1991). AAMD Skala adaptivnog ponašanja. Priručnik. Zagreb: Fakultet za defektologiju.
13. Iuculano, T., Rosenberg-Lee, M., Richardson, J., Tenison, C., Fuchs, L., Supekar, K., & Menon, V. (2015). Cognitive tutoring induces widespread neuroplasticity and remediates brain function in children with mathematical learning disabilities. Nature communications, 6.
14. Kaaresen, P. I., Rønning, J. A., Ulvund, S. E., & Dahl, L. B. (2006). A randomized, controlled trial of the effectiveness of an early-intervention program in reducing parenting stress after preterm birth. Pediatrics, 118(1), e9-e19.
15. Kasari, C. (2015). Update on behavioral interventions for autism and developmental disabilities. Current opinion in neurology, 28(2), 124-129.
16. Koch, K. R., & Moore, B. M. (2015). Relating Neurodevelopment to Early Intervention Special Education: Implications for Developing Best Practices.International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 7(1), 51-68.
17. Landsem, I. P., Handegård, B. H., Ulvund, S. E., Tunby, J., Kaaresen, P. I., & Rønning, J. A. (2015). Does an Early Intervention Influence Behavioral Development Until Age 9 in Children Born Prematurely? Child development,86(4), 1063-1079.
18. Memisevic, H., & Hadzic, S. (2013). Development Of Fine Motor Coordination And Visual-Motor Integration In Preschool Children. Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation, 14(1-2), 45-53.
19. Mujkanovic, E., Memisevic, H., Mujkanovic, E., Zecic, S., & Biscevic, I. (2016). Mothers' satisfaction with treatment opportunities for their children with autism spectrum disorder in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Materia socio-medica, 28(4), 288-291.
20. Paik, E., & Healey, W. C. (1999). Early intervention programs in Korea for children with disabilities. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 46(2), 253-259.
21. Raver, C. C., & Zigler, E. F. (1997). Social competence: An untapped dimension in evaluating Head Start's success. Early childhood research quarterly, 12(4), 363-385.
22. Richards, C. L., Malouin, F., Dumas, F., Marcoux, S., Lepage, C., & Menier, C. (1997). Early and Intensive Treadmill Locomotor Training for Young Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Feasibility Study. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 9(4), 158-165.
23. Roberts, M. Y., & Kaiser, A. P. (2015). Early intervention for toddlers with language delays: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 135 (4), 686-693.
24. Russell, D. J., Rosenbaum, P. L., Avery, L. M., & Lane, M. (2002). Gross motor function measure (GMFM-66 and GMFM-88) user's manual (No. 159). Cambridge University Press.
25. Smith, I. M., Koegel, R. L., Koegel, L. K., Openden, D. A., Fossum, K. L., & Bryson, S. E. (2010). Effectiveness of a novel community-based early intervention model for children with autistic spectrum disorder. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 115(6), 504-523.
26. Taaffe Young, K., Marsland, K. W., & Zigler, E. (1997). The regulatory status of center-based infant and toddler child care. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 67(4), 535-544.
27. Tomasello, N. M., Manning, A. R., & Dulmus, C. N. (2010). Family-centered early intervention for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Journal of Family Social Work, 13(2), 163-172.
28. Zigler, E., & Styfco, S. J. (2000). Pioneering steps (and fumbles) in developing a federal preschool intervention. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 20(2), 67-70.