The affects of disabled children on their parents

Abstract

This dissertation examines parents' perspectives and experiences on bringing up children with an array of disabilities. The purpose of the study is to share themes related to patterns of parents' reactions and choices when coming to terms in parenting a disabled child. This dissertation analyses the parents' feelings to the news that they are expecting a disabled child; the stages that they go through until they start coming to terms with their child's disability; their perceptions; their worries; and the coping strategies employed in bringing up their disabled child. This study is based on a qualitative study that explore how the birth of disabled children affect and influence the lives of the parents. The research is based on three families who have a disabled child still sharing the same house. For this research a literature review was completed together with an emancipatory type of methodology. At the end of the fieldwork a semi-structured interview schedule was carried out with the parents and with the siblings of the disabled child, so as to understand, in more depth the particular experiences that these families have to face with in their everyday lives. Findings from the study show that parents of disabled children meet up with a lot of challenges in the upbringing of disabled offspring.