Parents’ involvement in the context of Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI) in Quebec
Since 2003, the Intellectual Disabilities and Pervasive Development Disorders Readaptation Center (CRDITED) offer intensive behavioral intervention (IBI) for children under six years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parent involvement in IBI programs is usually recommended by clinical and scientific experts in North America. This study examines the forms and intensity parental involvement can take in IBI programs and seeks to identify factors associated with this implication. 136 parents (85 mothers and 51 fathers) completed a postal questionnaire. Bivariate statistical analyses were performed. Results show that parents, mothers especially, adopt various forms of involvement which the intensity is increased for the mothers. Four variables appear related to involvement: the parent’s gender, employment status, a positive perception of the IBI effects on the child and a high number of hours of intervention. In contrast with findings from other studies, no association was found between the severity of the child’s symptoms and the degree of parental involvement in the IBI program. This study allows us to better understand the experience of mothers and fathers in IBI programs and to find possible ways to facilitate the implementation of IBI programs in Quebec families.