Masters Thesis

Parent/caregiver experiences of raising a young child with multiple disabilities

The uniqueness of each family must be understood in order to learn from them and provide meaningful support options, which is especially important in understanding the experiences and perspectives of families who have a young child with multiple disabilities. This study sought to understand what it means to be a parent/caregiver raising a young child with multiple disabilities and the contexts that impact their experiences, including these families’ transition from early intervention to preschool services. In this phenomenological inquiry, ten parents who had young children with multiple disabilities participated in a brief survey and in-depth interview that focused on understanding the participant's family and context. Findings exemplified the families’ experiences in raising their young children with multiple disabilities across three categories: the impact of change, the power of individualization, and the importance of community. These findings emphasize the provision of services that are family-centered, the need for service providers to develop skills to support each family with individualized care, and the importance of establishing a form of community support that is available, accessible, and appropriate for all families raising children with multiple disabilities.

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