Exploring Parental Beliefs and Intervention Strategies for Children with Disabilities

Abstract

This study delves into parental beliefs regarding disabilities and their consequential impact on intervention strategies for children with various disabilities—Hearing Impairment, Visual Impairment, Mental Retardation, and Physical Impairment. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the research sought to gather comprehensive insights into these beliefs. The sample comprised purposefully selected parents of children with disabilities, employing semi-structured interviews to extract nuanced information. A total of 40 parents, 10 from each disability category, were part of this study. The findings unearthed a profound understanding of parental perspectives on their child's disability, societal encounters related to their child's condition, specific intervention strategies adopted, and parental satisfaction with the chosen interventions. Moreover, the study uncovered diverse fears concerning the future of both genders, influencing parental perceptions of disability, some viewing it as a reward while others as a punishment, thereby impacting the selection of interventions.