Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare parental concerns for Infants and toddlers with special needs from rural versus urban counties in Arizona. A statewide, representative sample of 600 parents served by Arizona's key agencies were surveyed in face to face interviews with trained interviewers. Respondents were asked questions related to the nature and type of services they were receiving, their satisfaction with the services, their need for other services, financial needs, information needs, and emotional support needs. Differences were identified in relationship to the kinds of information parents from rural and urban counties need, as well as the source of information they are more likely to utilize. Parents from the largest urban area indicated that they had less help coordinating and accessing services. Parents from rural areas appeared to be enrolled at higher rates in low income family service programs and reported spending more money on travel and room and board to receive services. Overall, parents reported being highly involved in their child's services and indicated that their greatest concerns were in accessing information in order to make decisions about their child's needs.
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