Parents Plus Special Needs Programme (PPSN) is for parents of a child between the ages of 11 and 25 years old with an intellectual disability. It is typically delivered by two facilitators to groups of up to eight parents through seven 2.5-hour sessions over a period of 6 to 10 weeks. During the sessions, parents learn strategies for supporting their disabled child’s needs, improving family wellbeing, and managing their own needs and life balance.
The information above is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
11 to 25 years old
Group
Parents Plus Special Needs Programme (PPSN) is one of eight Parents Plus! interventions adapted specifically for families with a child between 11 and 25 years old with an intellectual disability. The child’s disability may be mild, moderate, or severe and may be present with additional diagnoses, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or a physical disability.
The Parents Plus Special Needs Programme (PPSN) consists of seven sessions which are delivered over a six to 12-week period to parents individually and in small groups. PPSN is designed to be delivered in disability and community settings with the aim of connecting parents to other parents and strengthening their links to the community. By supporting parents, PPSN aims to also improve the wellbeing of their intellectually disabled child.
PPSN typically begins with a pre-intervention 45-minute introductory meeting conducted with parents individually, and parents receive a book covering PPSN’s key learning principles, strategies, worksheets, and exercises. The seven group sessions then follow, and are organised around three pillars: supporting families, supporting children, and parent self-care. Topics include what it is like to raise a child with special needs, how to best connect with a special needs child, strategies for communicating with a special needs child, the impact of a child’s disability on parent relationship, establishing routines, and the impact on siblings. Topics are discussed among the group, with parents having the opportunity to engage in discussions with clinicians and other parents.
The intervention concludes with a follow-up group session occurring three to six months after the seventh session is complete.
11 to 25 years old
Children and young people who have an intellectual disability and may also have an additional diagnosis.
Disclaimer: The information in this section is as offered/supported by the intervention provider.
Science-based assumption
The transition to adolescence and adulthood can be particularly challenging for children with an intellectual disability
Biological and school-based changes often contribute to increases in social, emotional, and behavioural difficulties during the adolescent years.
Science-based assumption
The challenges associated with adolescent development are often stressful for parents with a disabled child
Effective parenting practices can reduce the stress families with a special needs adolescent often experience.
Science-based assumption
It is not uncommon for support for families with a disabled child to decrease during the adolescent years
Increasing the support available to parents with a disabled adolescent child will likely reduce parental stress and improve family functioning.
Intervention
Parents learn strategies for:
Supporting sibling and parent relationships in the family
Building self-esteem and wellbeing
Managing adolescent behaviours that challenge
Understanding puberty, sexuality, and relationships
Advocating for their child’s needs
Preparing their child for adulthood and future transitions.
Short-term
Reductions in parental stress
Improved parental confidence
Improved parenting behaviours
Increased family wellbeing
Increased support from the community.
Medium-term
Reduced adolescent emotional and behavioural problems.
Long-term
Increased child wellbeing during adolescence and adulthood.
Parents of children and young people aged between 11 and 25 years old who have an intellectual disability and may also have an additional diagnosis.
PPSN is delivered in six to 12 sessions of 2 to 2.5 hours’ duration each by two trained practitioners, to groups of up to eight families.
PPSN supports parents to:
Every parent receives a parent book that includes key learning principles, strategies, worksheets, and exercises. Topics are discussed among the group, with parents having the opportunity to engage in discussions with clinicians and other parents.
The practitioners who deliver this intervention are professionally qualified multidisciplinary team members working in the disability sector such as psychologists, social workers, behaviour therapists, support workers, nurses, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, family service managers, and advocacy workers.
The practitioners have 14 hours of intervention training. Booster training of practitioners is recommended.
It is recommended that practitioners are supervised by one trained Parents Plus supervisor/trainer.
Intervention fidelity is maintained through the following processes:
Contact person: Dr Eileen Brosnan
Organisation: Parents Plus
Email address: eileen@parentsplus.ie
Website: https://www.parentsplus.co.uk/parents-plus-programmes/the-special-needs-programme-training-for-professionals/
*Please note that this information may not be up to date. In this case, please visit the listed intervention website for up to date contact details.
Parents Plus Special Needs’ most rigorous evidence comes from a single RCT conducted in Ireland consistent with Foundations’ Level 3 evidence strength threshold.
This study observed statistically significant improvements in parents’ reports of their child’s behaviour, as well as improved parenting practices, self-confidence, and satisfaction as a parent in comparison to the reports of parents not receiving the intervention.
Parents Plus Special Needs can be described as evidence-based: it has evidence from at least one rigorously conducted RCT or QED demonstrating a statistically significant positive impact on at least one child outcome.
| Identified in search | 1 |
| Studies reviewed | 1 |
| Meeting the L2 threshold | 0 |
| Meeting the L3 threshold | 1 |
| Contributing to the L4 threshold | 0 |
| Ineligible | 0 |
| Study design | Cluster RCT |
| Country | Ireland |
| Sample characteristics | 277 families across 24 intellectual disability services |
| Race, ethnicities, and nationalities | Not reported |
| Population risk factors | All participants had been diagnosed with an intellectual disability (40% mild, 48% moderate, and 13% severe). 84% of the sample had an additional comorbidity including Autism (57% of the sample) and Down’s syndrome (26% of the sample). |
| Timing | Measurement occurred at baseline and post-intervention (seven weeks after baseline) |
| Child outcomes | Reduction in problem behaviour (parent report) |
| Other outcomes |
|
| Study rating | 3 |
| Citations | McMahon, S. M. (2023) Parents Plus parenting programme for parents of adolescents with intellectual disabilities: A cluster randomised controlled trial. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 36, 871–880. |
No other studies were identified for Parents Plus Special Needs.
Note on provider involvement: This provider has agreed to Foundations’ terms of reference (or the Early Intervention Foundation's terms of reference), and the assessment has been conducted and published with the full cooperation of the intervention provider.
Rated 1: Set up and delivery is low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of less than £100.
Rated 2: Set up and delivery is medium-low cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £100–£499.
Rated 3: Set up and delivery is medium cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £500–£999.
Rated 4: Set up and delivery is medium-high cost, equivalent to an estimated unit cost of £1,000–£2,000.
Rating 5: Set up and delivery is high cost. Equivalent to an estimated unit cost of more than £2,000.
Set up and delivery cost is not applicable, not available, or has not been calculated.
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Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing child maltreatment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Enhancing school achievement & employment: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing crime, violence and antisocial behaviour: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
Preventing substance abuse: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient.
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Rated 2: Has preliminary evidence of improving a child outcome from a quantitative impact study, but there is not yet evidence of causal impact.
Rated 2+: Meets the level 2 rating and the best available evidence is based on a study which is more rigorous than a level 2 standard but does not meet the level 3 standard.
Rated 3: Has evidence of a short-term positive impact from at least one rigorous study.
Rated 3+: Meets the level 3 rating and has evidence from other studies with a comparison group at level 2 or higher.
Rated 4: Has evidence of a long-term positive impact through at least two rigorous studies.
Rated 4+: Meets the level 4 rating and has at least a third study contributing to the Level 4 rating, with at least one of the studies conducted independently of the intervention provider.
Rating has a *: The evidence base includes mixed findings i.e., studies suggesting positive impact alongside studies, which on balance, indicate no effect or negative impact.
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