The Small Steps Early Intervention Program Course for Paraprofessionals: What Paraprofessionals Have to Say

Early childhood special education (ECSE) is a growing field in Turkey with increasing numbers of children with special needs and families served throughout the nation. Despite this trend, personnel shortage is still a problem, with especially a lack of paraprofessionals who can be considered an important work force in the field. In 2010, the Sabanci Foundation, together with two NGOs and a university, began a project in Southeastern Turkey, consisting of raising paraprofessionals to serve as personnel in implementing the Small Steps Early Intervention Program (SSEIP). This study aimed at investigating the views of trainees who participated in the 60-hour SSEIP course. Results from 3 focus group discussions with a total of 25 trainees revealed the benefits of the course for the participants as well as their recommendations for future courses. The authors concluded that the findings carried important implications for raising ECSE personnel in Turkey.