Investigating Contingent Responsivity in Caregivers of Children with Severe Disabilities

Abstract

This study allowed for an investigation of the associations between Contingent Responsivity and six caregiver behaviors, as well as the associations among the six caregiver behaviors when exploring play interactions between caregivers and their children with severe disabilities. Contingent Responsivity is often identified as a critical element in early intervention with caregivers; however, little is known about which behaviors comprise this broad construct; this is particularly true for caregivers of children with severe disabilities. This study concluded that based on the present sample, the six caregiver behaviors adapted from the work of Landry and Klein were distinct from each other and from the traditional concept of Contingent Responsivity. This reveals the importance of teaching multiple behaviors to caregivers of children with severe disabilities.