Support for parent carers of children with learning and developmental disabilities
Support for parent carers of children with learning and developmental disabilities
Researchers are exploring whether a digital parent support program called Stepping Stones Online can help improve behaviour and emotional difficulties in children with learning and developmental disabilities.
If you're interested in taking part, click below to fill in a short expression of interest form.
Support for parents carers can vary across England and sometimes it may be difficult to access support, even if it is available. We would like to find out if Stepping Stones Online is helpful for parent carers. Stepping Stones Online aims to support parent carers to manage behavioural and emotional difficulties in children with learning or developmental disabilities.
Support for parents carers can vary across England and sometimes it may be difficult to access support, even if it is available. We would like to find out if Stepping Stones Online is helpful for parent carers. Stepping Stones Online aims to support parent carers to manage behavioural and emotional difficulties in children with learning or developmental disabilities.
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About the study
About the study
About the study
This is a randomised controlled study, which means that a computer will randomly place eligible participants into one of two groups to compare Stepping Stones Online to support that parents typically receive.
This is a randomised controlled study, which means that a computer will randomly place eligible participants into one of two groups to compare Stepping Stones Online to support that parents typically receive.
This is a randomised controlled study, which means that a computer will randomly place eligible participants into one of two groups to compare Stepping Stones Online to support that parents typically receive.
Who can take part?
You may be eligible to take part if:
you are a parent carer (biological, step, adoptive, or foster)
you are 18 years or over
you live in England
your child is aged 2–11 and has a learning disability, is being assessed for one, or has developmental delay / global developmental delay, AND
you have concerns about your child’s behaviour and/or emotions
If you are unsure if you would be eligible to take part, a member of the research team would be happy to discuss this with you. Contact details of the research team members are provided below.
Who can take part?
You may be eligible to take part if:
you are a parent carer (biological, step, adoptive, or foster)
you are 18 years or over
you live in England
your child is aged 2–11 and has a learning disability, is being assessed for one, or has developmental delay / global developmental delay, AND
you have concerns about your child’s behaviour and/or emotions
If you are unsure if you would be eligible to take part, a member of the research team would be happy to discuss this with you. Contact details of the research team members are provided below.
Who can take part?
You may be eligible to take part if:
you are a parent carer (biological, step, adoptive, or foster)
you are 18 years or over
you live in England
your child is aged 2–11 and has a learning disability, is being assessed for one, or has developmental delay / global developmental delay, AND
you have concerns about your child’s behaviour and/or emotions
If you are unsure if you would be eligible to take part, a member of the research team would be happy to discuss this with you. Contact details of the research team members are provided below.
Who can take part?
You may be eligible to take part if:
you are a parent carer (biological, step, adoptive, or foster)
you are 18 years or over
you live in England
your child is aged 2–11 and has a learning disability, is being assessed for one, or has developmental delay / global developmental delay, AND
you have concerns about your child’s behaviour and/or emotions
If you are unsure if you would be eligible to take part, a member of the research team would be happy to discuss this with you. Contact details of the research team members are provided below.
What's involved
If you complete the screening process and are eligible for the study, you'll be asked to provide consent to take part. You'll then be asked to complete a set of questionnaires about you, your family and your child. This information is kept securely on a protected database which only members of the research management team can access.
You'll then be randomly put into one of two groups. Half of study participants will be given access to Stepping Stones Online, and the other half will continue with the support they usually recieve. This will help us measure the effectiveness of Stepping Stones Online. After the study, participants who did not access Stepping Stones Online will be offered access.
What's involved
If you complete the screening process and are eligible for the study, you'll be asked to provide consent to take part. You'll then be asked to complete a set of questionnaires about you, your family and your child. This information is kept securely on a protected database which only members of the research management team can access.
You'll then be randomly put into one of two groups. Half of study participants will be given access to Stepping Stones Online, and the other half will continue with the support they usually recieve. This will help us measure the effectiveness of Stepping Stones Online. After the study, participants who did not access Stepping Stones Online will be offered access.
What's involved
If you complete the screening process and are eligible for the study, you'll be asked to provide consent to take part. You'll then be asked to complete a set of questionnaires about you, your family and your child. This information is kept securely on a protected database which only members of the research management team can access.
You'll then be randomly put into one of two groups. Half of study participants will be given access to Stepping Stones Online, and the other half will continue with the support they usually recieve. This will help us measure the effectiveness of Stepping Stones Online. After the study, participants who did not access Stepping Stones Online will be offered access.
We want to hear from you!
We want to hear from you!
We want to hear from you!
If you're interested in taking part please click below to fill in a short expression of interest form, and a member of the study team will get in touch with you.
If you're interested in taking part, please click below to fill in a short expression of interest form, and a member of the study team will get in touch with you.
If you have any questions you can contact Emma Scripps or Rovan Bahnassy directly by emailing daisy-online@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
This study has been reviewed and approved by a research ethics committee.
This study has been reviewed and approved by a research ethics committee.
All rights reserved. Copyright 2026.
All rights reserved. Copyright 2026.