Early Intervention Telepractice

Virtualna rana intervencija je metoda pružanja usluga rane rehabilitacije korištenjem informacijskih i telekomunikacijskih tehnologija, a diljem svijeta se prakticira zadnjih desetak godina. Takozvane tele-usluge nastale su u potrazi za alternativnim modelima intervencija uslijed nedovoljno kvalificiranih stručnjaka te nedostatka usluga u lokanim sredinama što je situacija na koju nailazimo i na području Hrvatske. U posljednjih godinu dana, uslijed pandemije COVID-19 virusa, stvorili su se brojni izazovi u pružanju usluga rane intervencije, a upravo je virtualna rana intervencija jedan od načina kako djeci s teškoćama u razvoju i njihovim obiteljima nastaviti pružati potrebne usluge. Cilj ovog rada je dati pregled dosadašnjih teorijskih i empirijskih spoznaja iz literature o virtualnoj okolini i podršci u sustavu rane intervencije. Znanstveno je dokazana učinkovitost podučavanja roditelja u ranoj intervenciji kao jedan proces koji jača sposobnosti i razvija nove vještine roditelja te stvara željene promjene u radu s djetetom. Upravo se virtualna rana intervencija oslanja na metodu podučavanja roditelja u kojoj stručnjaci virtualnim putem pružaju podršku i uče roditelje da koriste prirodne tehnike intervencije tijekom igre i drugih dnevnih rutina, za promicanje dječjih socijalnih i komunikacijskih vještina. Brojna istraživanja dokazuju učinkovitost virtualnih terapija, kao i brojne dobrobiti iz kojih proizlazi povećan pristup kvalificiranim pružateljima usluga te povećanje obiteljskog angažmana i uključenosti roditelja u interakciju s djetetom što djeluje pozitivno na sam razvoj djeteta. S druge strane, postoje i brojni izazovi gdje je vidljiva potreba za napretkom i daljnjim istraživanjima u ovom području.Early intervention telepractice is a method of providing early rehabilitation services using information and telecommunication technologies. In the world, the provision of early intervention services has been virtually practiced over the past ten years. The so-called tele-services were created in search of alternative intervention models due to lack of qualified experts and lack of services in local environments, which is the situation that we are also facing in Croatia. Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges in providing early intervention services. Early intervention telepractice is a way of continuing to provide the necessary services to children with developmental disabilities and their families. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of theoretical and empirical knowledge from literature on virtual environment and support in early intervention system. The effectiveness of parent teaching in early intervention has been scientifically proven as one process that strengthens abilities, develops new parental skills and creates desired changes in working with the child. Virtual early intervention relies on the method of teaching parents in which experts provide virtual support and teach parents to use natural intervention techniques during play and other daily routines, to promote children’s social and communication skills. Numerous studies prove the effectiveness of virtual therapy, as well as many benefits, resulting in increased access to qualified service providers, increased family involvement and participation of parents in interaction with the child, which has a positive effect on the child’s development itself. On the other hand, there are many challenges where there is a need for progress and further research in this field