Language and Play Everyday: Enhancing Early Intervention Provider Knowledge and Use of Naturalistic Communication Interventions

Abstract

The current study used a quasi-experimental comparison group pre/post-test design to examine the effectiveness of the Language and Play Everyday (LAPE) program for improving EI/ECSE practitioners’ knowledge, use of, and confidence in using Caregiver Implemented-Naturalistic Communication Interventions (CI-NCIs). Participants included 20 EI/ECSE practitioners across IDEA-related disciplines, eight with prior LAPE experience. 10 practitioners took part in a new, more intensive LAPE program, and 10 did not. Analysis of pre/post-questionnaires revealed that practitioners with prior LAPE experience reported significantly higher use of CI-NCI skills and mean self-efficacy ratings than those without LAPE experience. Practitioners who participated in the new, more intensive program used significantly more skills and scored significantly better on a knowledge test than those who did not participate, even when controlling for prior LAPE experience. These findings indicate that the LAPE program is a promising model to train EI/ECSE practitioners across disciplines in CI-NCIs.