Poster #22 - Challenges of Parents of Children with Disabilities in Ghana: Implications for Counselling

• In Event: Poster Session 01

Abstract

Disability is an inescapable human condition and at one point or another, almost every person is exposed to, and may experience temporary or permanent disability (World Health Organization [WHO] & World Bank, 2011). Parenting is a difficult task and being a parent of child with disability is demanding and challenging. Parents may face many challenges because of child disability and lack of awareness about diseases. This can have great psychological effect on parent’s life. The involvement of counselling with parents with disability therefore is to improve and possibly remedy the challenges facing parents. The challenges facing this category of parents are quite obvious and they need new strategies in resolving through counselling. Counseling is designed to eliminate the emotional, psychological, and social barriers that an individual's multifaceted daily issues have set in their path (Antwi, 2021). This study explored challenges of parents of children with disabilities in Don Bosco basic school in Winneba in the Central region of Ghana. This qualitative study adopted phenomenological design. A sample of 5 parents having children with disabilities was used for the study. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the participants. Interviews were used to gather data and data were analysed in themes. It was found that parents had a positive opinion towards their children with disabilities in Don Bosco basic school in Winneba. Also, financial problems, discrimination, physical exhaustion, parents’ low educational background, lack of time to engage in profitable job/business and isolation were key challenges faced by these parents. Again, the use of assistive devices, family support, paid support, social support, and mental strength of children were key coping mechanisms adopted by these parents. More so, parents of children with disabilities did not receive assistance from the school counsellor in coping with the challenges they face. Conclusively, findings from the study draw the attention of stakeholders, counsellors and educators to a lot of challenges, fears and worries for the parents of the disabled children. It was recommended that counsellors should take into consideration the plights of children with disabilities in their society and make available facilities so that parents will view their children’s disabilities as an avenue to unearth other potentials in their children. Again, counsellors should educate the society on disability issues so as to reduce the discrimination attitude towards parents with children with disability. Also, healthcare and educational facilities should be made available and affordable by the government to ease the stress of parents caring for their children with disabilities. The Municipal guidance and counselling coordinators and the school counsellors should offer training for parents on how to cope with problems and issues related to raising a child with disabilities. The limitations were given in light of the study.

Author

• Theresa Antwi, University of Education - Winneba (UEW)
  Presenting Author