engleski

Cooperation between parents of children with disabilities and professionals in the system of early intervention

Parents of children with disabilities in Croatia receive professional support from the three sectors: health, social care and education. Numerous difficulties of these parents are associated with a lack of coordination of these systems and the fact that parents are trying to manage for themselves with the network of regulations that are often vague and contradictory. In addition, parents of children with disabilities are faced with problems in a timely satisfying the developmental needs of their children with limited capacity of existing services, a lack of experts and information, complicated paperwork, labeling and discrimination of their children and the absence of early intervention. The aim of this study was to examine the communication and relationship between parents of children with disabilities and professionals in the field of health, social care and early preschool education in relation of early support. In accordance with the aim of this research qualitative approach was chosen for collecting and analyzing data. Method of focus groups was used for data collection, and they were analyzed, with so called method of frame analysis. Two focus groups were conducted with participants in research ; one with parents (5 mothers) and one with experts (5 various specialists), in order to obtain information about the relationship between parents and professionals. Results of the survey indicate that parents emphasize positive experiences with early support services, such as: cooperation with experts about their working with child, with support services in the community and beyond, the mutual support of parents, but also negative experiences: obstacles in obtaining support services and providing guidelines for improving the quality of their relationship and the quality of support services. Experts however, point out problems in implementing the system of early support and the need for specific actions to improve the relationship between parents and professionals, also through guidelines to improve the quality of the relationship and the quality of support services.

children with disabilities, early intervention, parents, professionals, cooperation

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