The purpose of this study is to examine and analyze parental needs for family supporting service for preschool and elementary school children with disabilities and to obtain basic information for an effective supporting service for families of childre...
The purpose of this study is to examine and analyze parental needs for family supporting service for preschool and elementary school children with disabilities and to obtain basic information for an effective supporting service for families of children with special needs.
The subjects are 104 parents of children from nurseries for the disabled, special education schools, welfare centers, and private early education institutes. As a survey tool ''Family Need Survey' by Baily and Simmenson(1988) was translated and used
As for parental needs for family supporting service, first the difference of needs for family service according to parents' background variable was examined and next the difference according to the children's general variable was examined. The results are as following:
First, with regard to parents' background variable such as gender, age, academic backgrounds, occupation, and monthly income, the parental needs vary with their age. However there was no difference for parental needs in relation to gender, academic backgrounds, occupation, and monthly income. Parents under the age 30 or in 30's show higher needs for information and financial support than those who are over 40. This indicates that the parents need support around time when they found their children's disabilities and wanted medical treatment for the children
Second, with regard to the children's general condition variable such as educational institutes, age, gender, and the type and degree of disabilities, the parental needs vary with the type of educational institutes their children attend, and the degree of children's disabilities. There was no difference for the needs in relation to children's age, gender and the type of disabilities.
With regard to specific areas of educational institutes, the parental needs vary with areas of information, explanation to others, and family functioning. The children attending private institutes of special education show highest needs for information. Preschoolers in the school of special education show highest needs for explanation to others and family functioning. With regard to the degree of disabilities, the parents of the children who have pretty serious disabilities show highest needs for community services.