The Impact of Children with Intellectual Impairment on Families
The Case of Dagbreek and Môreson Centres in the Khomas Education Region of Namibia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol5.iss1.163Keywords:
Intellectual impairment, Trauma, Coping, Khomas Education RegionAbstract
This qualitative study was designed to investigate the experiences, feelings and views of families with intellectually impaired children at the Dagbreek and Môreson Centres in the Khomas Education region of Namibia. For the purpose of this study, a qualitative approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to collect data with a sample of ten families whose children attended school at the aforementioned Centre’s. The data collected was analyzed using thematic content analysis. Four sub- themes were identified and from them it was discovered that the ‘overall experience of their children’s impairment’ by parents and guardians was unique since they had mixed feelings (both positive and negative) and had different reactions to the diagnosis of their children’s impairment. The study noted that the existence of an intellectually impaired child in the family has a major impact on family members, the relationships of parents, separation of parents, extended families as well as on the public or community members.
References
Cunningham, C. (1996). Families of Children with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome Research and Practice. 4 (3), 87-95. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3104/perspectives.66
Evans, G.W. (2004). The environment of childhood poverty. American Psychologist, 59, 77- 92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.2.77
Fraser, W.I., MacGillivray, R.C. and Green, A.M. (1991). Hallas’ – Caring for people withmental handicaps. 8th edition. Oxford: Butterworth Heinemann.
Gay, L.R., Mills, G.E., & Airasian, P. (2009). Educational Research:
Competencies for Analysis and Application. New Jersey: Pearson
Education.
Gorman, G. E., Clayton, P. (2005). Qualitative research for the information DOI: https://doi.org/10.29085/9781856047982
professional: A practical handbook. London: Facet Publishing.
Grant, G. & Whittell. B. (2000). Differentiated Coping Strategies
in Families with Children or Adults with Intellectual Disabilities:
The Relevance of Gender, Family Composition, and the Life Span.
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 13, 256-75.
Green, S.E. (2001). Grandma’s hands: Parental perspectives in families
of the importance of grandparents as secondary caregivers in families of children
with disabilities. International Journal of Aging and human Development, 53, 11-33.
Gupta, A. & Singhal, N. (2004). Positive Perceptions of children with disabilities.
Asia Pacific Disability Rehabilitation Journal, 15, (1), 22-35.
Jacques, R. (2003). Family Issues: Family dysfunction and increasingly
recognises the successful, resourceful ways in which families adapt
and provide care. Psychiatry 2, 9. New York: Medicine Publishing Company.
Johnson, B. & Christensen, L. (2008). Education Research; Quantitative,
Qualitative and Mixed Approaches. 2nd Edition. Pearson Education. New York.
Jones, J. & Passey, J. (2003). Family Adaptation, Coping and Resources:
Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities and Behaviour Problems.
Journal on Development Disabilities, 11, 1.
Mak, W. W. S., Ho, A.H.Y. & Law, R.W. (2006). Sense of Coherence, Ways of
Coping, and Well-being of Married and Divorced Mothers of Children
with Autism in Hong Kong. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual
Disabilities, 157-167.
Marshak, L. E. & Prezant, F. (2007). Married with Special Needs Children: A
Couple’s Guide to Keeping Connected. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine
House.
Marshak, L. E., Seligman,M. & Prezant, F. (1999). Disability and Family Life
Cycle. New York: Basic Books.
Miller, C.T., & Major, B. (2000).Coping with Stigma and Prejudice. (4th ed.,).
New York: Guilford Press.
Moores, D. (2006). Education of the Deaf: Psychology, Principles, and Practices.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Shaban, K., Jevne, R.F. & Sobsey,D. (2003). Hope in families of Children with
Developmental Disabilities. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 10, (1), 22-40.Swenson, S. (2005). Families, Research, and Systems Change.
Mental Retardation, 43, 365-368.
Trute, B. (2003). Grandparents of children with developmental disabilities: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.87
Intergenerational support and family well-being. Families in Society, 84,
-126.
Turnbull, A.P. & Turnbull, H.R., (2001). Families, Professionals and
Exceptionality (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/ Prentice Hall.
Ylven, R., & Bjorck-Akesson, E. & Granlund, M. (2006). Literature review of
positive functioning in families with children with a disability. Journal of
Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 3, 253 – 270.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2017 Aina Simson, Andrew Möwes
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyrights for articles published in IJIER journals are retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. The journal/publisher is not responsible for subsequent uses of the work. It is the author's responsibility to bring an infringement action if so desired by the author for more visit Copyright & License.
How to Cite
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- EMILIA MBONGO, Andrew Möwes, Charles Chata, Factors impacting the implementation guidance and counselling services in secondary schools in the Ohangwena region of Namibia , International Journal for Innovation Education and Research: Vol. 4 No. 5 (2016): International Journal for Innovation Education and Research