Analysis Of Perceptions Of Parents Who Have Children With Intellectual Disabilities: Implications For Service Providers

Abstract

The question of whether parents of children with intellectual disabilities could be regarded as a homogenous population, in terms of the impact their children have on them, was investigated in this study. A chi-square analysisof the ratingslTy mothers and fathers of critical issues related to parenting a child with intellectual disabilities, indicated that there were no significant differences between the twogroups in terms of theirgeneral positivity-negativity. But thefathers were less wellrepresented lTy the overall mean responses than the mothers. In otherwords, the mothers and fathers could not be regarded as a homogenous population. Furt~ore, there were significantdifferences between subgroups of the mothers. These data suggest that service providers should respond to parents on an individual need basis ratherthan assuming what their needs are based on inferences about parents of children with disabilities in general. Service providers should alsopay attention to the particular demographics that define the subgroups of parents, particularly whether or not a partner is involved with the parenting.

The overall conclusion in this study is that service providers should address the needs of parentsof children with disabilities on an individual basis as far as possible and be very cautiousof stereotyping them. Specific strategies, suchasparentinterviews andformal and informalsurveys, shouldbeusedtoassess parentresponses to critical issues in parentinga childwith intellectual disabilities before services areplanned. In this way more sensitive and appropriate services may bedelivered.