Natural Environment Using Scale (NEUS) for Children Aged 0 to 6 in Early Intervention and Special Education Services: A Validity and Reliability Study in Turkey

Abstract

This study presents the development, validation, and reliability of the Natural Environment Using Scale (NEUS), which is a parent-report evaluation of the natural environment (NE), in Turkey, in children aged 0 to 6 with disabilities. The NEUS measures the frequency of parents’ use of NEs in early intervention and special education services. The first stage includes a pilot study, which involved 26 items generated from the current literature. Three items were removed based on calculated content validity indices and expert opinions in the pilot study. The main study form utilized comprised 23 items. The analysis yielded the following fit indices for the scale: RMSEA = 0.010, GFI = 0.93, CFI = 1.00. The Cronbach’s α was .79. Based on findings in the current study, we developed a valid and reliable scale comprising 22 items and three factors related to the daily life of children with disability (Physical Environment and Materials, Parenting Skills- Social Interaction, and Support Services). In the future, the NEUS can serve as a valuable scale for more targeted and effective family-centered interventions.

Keywords

disabilities and development delays assessment survey methods young children

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Basu

Salisbury

C. L.

Thorkildsen

T. A.

(2010). Measuring collaborative consultation practices in natural environments. Journal of Early Intervention, 32(2), 127–150. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053815110362991

Bayhan

(2016). Erken müdahalede herşeyin başlangıcı: Çocuk gelişimi, tarama, değerlendirme ve tanılama. [The beginning of everything in early intervention: Child development, screening, assessment, and diagnosis]. In Metin

Guciz Dogan

(Eds.), Erken Müdahalede ilk aşama: Tanılama [First stage in early intervention: Diagnosis] (pp. 69–94). Hacettepe University Press.

Bayhan

Judith

(2014). A view to early intervention service delivery: What is happening now and what are the recommendations inclusion evaluation and natural environment (Part I). Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 1(1), 24–55.

Bayhan

Polat

Değirmenci

G. Y.

(2018, March). Özel gereksinimli çocuğa sahip annelerin doğal çevre kullanımının incelenmesi: Ölçek geliştirme pilot çalışması [Examining the use of natural environments by mothers of children with special needs: A scale development pilot study]. II. Uluslararası Erken Çocuklukta Müdahale Kongresi, Türkiye.

Brady

Peters

Gamel-McCormick

Venuto

(2004). Types and patterns of professional-family talk in home-based early intervention. Journal of Early Intervention, 26, 146–159. https://doi.org/10.1177/105381510402600206

Bricker

(2001). The natural environment: A useful construct? Infants & Young Children, 13(4), 21–31.

Campbell

P. H.

Sawyer

(2007). Supporting learning opportunities in natural settings through participation-based services. Journal of Early Intervention, 29(4), 287–305. https://doi.org/10.1177/105381510702900

Campbell

P. H.

Sawyer

L. B.

Muhlenhaupt

(2009). The meaning of natural environments for parents and professionals. Infants & Young Children, 22(4), 264–278. https://doi.org/10.1097/IYC.0b013e3181bc4dd44

Chai

A. Y.

Zhang

Bisberg

(2006). Rethinking natural environment practice: Implications from examining various interpretations and approaches. Early Childhood Education Journal, 34(3), 203–208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-006-0115-x

10.

Childress

D. C.

(2004). Special instruction and natural environments. Infants & Young Children, 17(2), 162–170. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001163-200404000-00007

11.

Cook

B. G.

Buysse

Klingner

Landrum

T. J.

McWilliam

R. A.

Tankersley

Test

D. W.

(2015). CEC’s standards for classifying the evidence base of practices in special education. Remedial and Special Education, 36(4), 220–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932514557271

12.

Diken

I. H.

Bayhan

Turan

Sipal

R. F.

Sucuoglu

Ceber-Bakkaloglu

Gunel

M. K.

Kara

O. K.

(2012). Early childhood intervention and early childhood special education in Turkey within the scope of the developmental system approach. Infants & Young Children, 25(4), 346–353. https://doi.org/10.1097/iyc.0b013e318268541d

13.

Directorate-General for Services for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly. (2023). Engelli ve Yaşlı İstatistik Bülteni [Disability and Elderly Statistics Bulletin]. Aile ve Sosyal Hizmetler Bakanlığı. https://www.aile.gov.tr/Media/131394/Engelli_bireyler_icin_bilgilendirme_rehberi.Pdf

14.

Dirks

Hadders-Algra

(2011). The role of the family in intervention of infants at high risk of cerebral palsy: A systematic analysis. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 53(Suppl. 4), 62–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8749.2011.04067.x

15.

Dunst

C. J.

Bruder

M. B.

Trivette

C. M.

Hamby

D. W.

(2005). Young childrenʼs natural learning environments: Contrasting approaches to early childhood intervention indicate differential learning opportunities. Psychological Reports, 96(1), 231–234. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.96.1.231-234

16.

Dunst

C. J.

Hamby

Trivette

Raab

Bruder

M. B.

(2000). Everyday family and community life and children’s naturally occurring learning opportunities. Journal of Early Intervention, 23(3), 151–164. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538151000230030501

17.

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center. (2024, July 2). Principles and practices in natural environments. https://ectacenter.org/decrp/

18.

Ely

M. S.

Ostrosky

M. M.

(2018). Applying the foundational concepts from early intervention to services provided to young children with visual impairments: A literature review. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 112(3), 225–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482x1811200302

19.

Ergi̇n

Di̇ken

I. H.

(2019). Gelişimsel yetersizliği olan çocuklarla rutin temelli öğretim yaklaşımlarının uygulandığı çalışmaların i̇ncelenmesi. [The Review of Studies on Routine-Based Teaching Practices Carried Out with Children with Developmental Disabilities]. Ankara Üniversitesi Eğitim Bilimleri Fakültesi Özel Eğitim Dergisi, 20(4), 815–840. https://doi.org/10.21565/ozelegitimdergisi.467638

20.

Er-Sabuncuoglu

Diken

İ. H.

(2010). Early childhood intervention in Turkey: Current situation, challenges and suggestions. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 2(2), 149–160. https://doi.org/10.20489/intjecse.107966

21.

Etscheidt

(2006). Least restrictive and natural environments for young children with disabilities: A legal analysis of issues. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 26(3), 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1177/02711214060260030401

22.

Field

(2009). Discovering statistics using SPSS. Sage.

23.

Freeman

S. F.

Paparella

Stickles

(2009). Autism intervention research: From the reviews to implications for practice. In Ellis

N. R.

(Ed.), International review of research in mental retardation (Vol. 38, pp. 195–238). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0074-7750(08)38008-2

24.

Goodyear

Zechmeister-Koss

Bauer

Christiansen

Glatz-Grugger

Paul

J. L.

(2022). Development of an evidence-informed and codesigned model of support for children of parents with a mental illness— “It takes a village” approach. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, Article 806884. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.806884

25.

Guralnick

M. J.

Bruder

M. B.

(2016). Early childhood inclusion in the United States: Goals, current status, and future directions. Infants & Young Children, 29(3), 166–177. https://doi.org/10.1097/IYC.0000000000000071

26.

Hoffman

T. K.

(2016). An exploration of service delivery in early intervention over the last two decades. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 8(2), 107–112. https://doi.org/10.20489/intjecse.284568

27.

Hurley

J. J.

Looby

Goodrum

A. R.

Campbell

E. M.

Bonti

G. K.

Raymon

B. A.

Condon

Schwaeber

S. E.

Mauceri

M. E.

Bourne

E. M.

Callahan

E. D.

Hardy

D. L.

Mathews

(2018). Early intervention for families and children experiencing homelessness. Infants & Young Children, 31(1), 20–36. https://doi.org/10.1097/iyc.0000000000000107

28.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. (2004). https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/1350

29.

Karoly

L. A.

Greenwood

P. W.

Everingham

S. S.

Houbé

Kilburn

M. R.

Rydell

P. C.

Sanders

Cheisa

(1998). Investing in our children: What we know and don’t know about the costs and benefits of early childhood interventions. Rand Corporation.

30.

Kılınc

Ç.

Bağlama

Akçamete

. (2019). Investigation of the measurement tools used in the diagnosis and evaluation of autism spectrum disorder in early childhood. Cyprus Turkish Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology, 1(3), 200–205. https://doi.org/10.35365/ctjpp.19.1.26

31.

Kılınc

Aral

(2015). Erken müdahale için bir model: Anne çocuk etkileşim programı. [A model for early intervention: Mother-child interaction program]. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 1(2), 63–76.

32.

Kingsley

Mailloux

(2013). Evidence for the effectiveness of different service delivery models in early intervention services. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 67(4), 431–436. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2013.006171

33.

Kırcaali-İftar

(2000). Küçük adımlar gelişimsel geriliği olan çocuklara yönelik erken eğitim programı’nın aile görüşlerine dayalı olarak değerlendirilmesi [Evaluation of the small steps early education program for children with developmental delays based on family views]. Anadolu University Press.

34.

Maring

J. R.

(2006). Developmental gains in children attending a center-based versus home-based early intervention program: A multivariate comparison. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 18(1), 78–79.

35.

McGee

G. G.

Krantz

P. J.

McClannahan

L. E.

(1985). The facilitative effects of incidental teaching on preposition use by autistic children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 17–31. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1985.18-17

36.

Ministry of National Education. (2018). Özel eğitim hizmetleri yönetmeliği [Special education services regulation]. Resmi Gazete. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2018/07/20180707-8.htm

37.

Ministry of National Education. (2023). National education statistics: Formal education 2023-2024. https://sgb.meb.gov.tr/www/icerik_goruntule.php?KNO=629

38.

Murphy

E. M.

(2021). Early intervention: Natural environment practices through coaching [Doctoral dissertation, Vanderbilt University]. https://ir.vanderbilt.edu/items/d8359c6d-eefb-4e73-8242-74bbed9d61b6

39.

Office of Special Education and Guidance. (2023). Erken çocukluk döneminde özel eğitim hizmetlerinin güçlendirilmesi projesi devam ediyor [The project to strengthen special education services in early childhood continues]. Özel eğitim ve rehberlik hizmetleri genel müdürlüğü. https://orgm.meb.gov.tr/www/erken-cocukluk-doneminde-ozel-egitim-hizmetlerinin-guclendirilmesi-projesi-devam-ediyor/icerik/2540

40.

Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights. (2020). Natural environments support early intervention services. https://www.pacer.org/parent/php/php-c178.pdf

41.

Peterson

C. A.

Luze

G. L.

Eshbaugh

E. M.

Jeon

Kantz

K. R.

(2007). Enhancing parent-child interactions through home visiting: Promising practice or unfulfilled promise? Journal of Early Intervention, 29(2), 119–140. https://doi.org/10.1177/105381510702900205

42.

Raab

Dunst

C. J.

(2004). Early intervention practitioner approaches to natural environment interventions. Journal of Early Intervention, 27(1), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/105381510402700102

43.

Sahin

(2018). Portage Erken Çocukluk Dönemi Eğitim Programı [Portage Early Childhood Education Program]. In Temel

(Ed.), Erken Çocukluk Eğitiminde Yaklaşımlar ve Programlar [Approaches and Programs in Early Childhood Education] (pp. 337–368). Vize Yayıncılık.

44.

Sawyer

B. E.

Campbell

P. H.

(2017). Teaching caregivers in early intervention. Infants & Young Children, 30(3), 175–189. https://doi.org/10.1097/IYC.0000000000000094

45.

Steenberg

J. S.

Thompson

Woods

Younggren

(2008). Seven key principles: Looks like/doesn’t look like. https://health.hawaii.gov/eis/files/2021/12/PrinciplesLooksLikeDoesntLookLike2008.Rev-08.16.16-1.pdf

46.

Stewart

K. B.

(2009). Natural environments or naturalistic learning opportunities: What is the evidence in early intervention? Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 2(1), 2–5. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411240902719405

47.

Tavşancıl

(2014). Tutumların ölçülmesi ve SPSS ile veri analizi [Measurement of attitudes and data analysis with SPSS]. Nobel Akademik Yayıncılık.

48.

Tomeny

K. R.

García-Grau

McWilliam

R. A.

(2021). Early interventionists’ ratings of family-centered practices in natural environments. Infants & Young Children, 34(4), 266–283. https://doi.org/10.1097/iyc.0000000000000203

49.

Tomris

Celik

Diken

I. H.

Akemoğlu

(2022). Views of parents of children with Down syndrome on early intervention services in Turkey. Infants & Young Children, 35(2), 120–132. https://doi.org/10.1097/iyc.0000000000000212

50.

Williams

C. S.

Fisher

Stelter

(2025). Providers’ perspectives about selecting materials for early intervention sessions: Five tensions that influence material use. Journal of Early Intervention, 47(4), 438–457. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538151241312662

51.

Wrona

(2016). Coping with stress and social network among parents participating in the process of early intervention. Psychiatria i Psychologia Kliniczna, 16(4), 217–224. https://doi.org/10.15557/pipk.2016.0029

52.

Yildiz

Apaydin

Efkere

P. A.

Gücüyener

Hirfanoglu

I. M.

Elbasan

(2025). Effects of SAFE early intervention approach in the first months of life in infants at risk: A randomized controlled study. Child: Care, Health and Development, 51(4), Article e70107. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70107

53.

Zwaigenbaum

Bauman

M. L.

Choueiri

Kasari

Carter

Granpeesheh

Mailloux

Roley

S. S.

Wagner

Fein

Pierce

Buie

Davis

P. A.

Newschaffer

Robins

Wetherby

Stone

W. L.

Yirmiya

Estes

. . .Natowicz

M. R.

(2015). Early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder under 3 years of age: Recommendations for practice and research. Pediatrics, 136(Suppl. 1), S60–S81. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-3667e