Transforming Partnerships: Parent Life Management Issues when a Child has Mental Retardation

Abstract

This study was designed to examine three aspects of life management in families of children with a variety of disability characteristics and age ranges: (a) effective life management strategies, (b) characteristics attributions of parents who manage life effectively, and (c) parents' experiences of positive transformational outcomes, orwaysin whichthey havebeen permanently, positively changed. The research followed a qualitative (interview)quantitative(survey) methodology, involving open-ended interviews with 15 parents and analysis of 80 surveys. Effective life management strategies included positive personal reframing, balancing roles and responsibilities, and utilizing resources. Parent characteristics incorporated important parent attributes, decision-makingability, and personal philosophy of life. Transformations were documented in personal, relational and perspectival domains and involved image-making, meaning-making, and choice-making.

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