The Journal of Arts, Humanities and Development Studies Research (JAHDSR) Vol.7, No.2, pp 145-162; April 2026
Perceived Influence of Professional Team Involvement on Early Intervention for Children with Disabilities in South-South Nigeria
1Okoye, Joy Sade, 2Potměsil, Miloň, 3Adeleke, Owoade Philip, & 4Igoni, Blessing Iloye,
1Department of Special Needs Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria,
sadespecial@yahoo.com, https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5625-978X
2Institute of Special Education Studies, Faculty of Education, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech
Republic, Milon.Potměšil@upol.cz https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5386-1902
3Department of Special Needs Education, University of Calabar, Nigeria
mafikuyomiphilip@yahoo.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3947-1745
4Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu Ogun State, Nigeria,
blessingiloye84@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6086-1529
This study examined the perceived influence of professional team involvement on early intervention for children with disabilities in South-South Nigeria. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, involving 204 participants purposively selected for their experience in early intervention services. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire validated by three experts in Special Education and Educational Measurement and Evaluation. The instrument demonstrated excellent reliability (Cronbach’s α = .941). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a one-sample t-test in SPSS Version 20. The findings revealed that professional team involvement significantly influences early intervention for children with disabilities, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in enhancing service quality and developmental outcomes. The study concludes that effective teamwork among professionals is fundamental to successful early intervention and recommends strengthening interdisciplinary training and professional development to enhance collaborative practice and family-centered service delivery.
Keywords: Professional team involvement, early intervention, children with disabilities, multidisciplinary collaboration, South-South Nigeria..