Abstract
To support early intervention, it is necessary to develop programming system tools that enable accurate, valid, and reliable assessments and can help achieve reasonable, generalizable, and measurable goals. This study examined the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System (AEPS) used by associations of children with disabilities in Saudi Arabia to assess its suitability for children with intellectual disabilities. A group of 16 specialists with different professional backgrounds (including special education, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychology) from 11 associations of children with disabilities took part in semi-structured personal interviews. The study concluded that AEPS is generally suited for use with children with intellectual disabilities. However, its suitability depends on the type and severity of the child's disability. The more severe the disability, the less effective the AEPS is likely to be. On the basis of this finding the researchers formed interdisciplinary teams to organise and integrate the children's learning and assess the benefits of AEPS, including its accuracy and ability to achieve adaptive, cognitive, and social targets, enhance family engagement and learning and develop basic development skills. This study also identified obstacles associated with the use of AEPS. These include the lack of comprehensiveness and accuracy of the goal, lack of precision and non-applicability to large movements and the fact that it cannot be used with all children with intellectual disabilities. In addition, the research showed that non-cooperation within the family is a major obstacle to the implementation of the AEPS. The results of this study have several implications.