Abstract
Purpose: Although researchers have explored parental perspectives on childhood speech and language disorders, this work has mostly been conducted in English-speaking countries. Little is known about parental experiences across countries. Participation in the COST Action IS1406 ‘Enhancing children's oral language skills across Europe and beyond’ provided an opportunity to conduct cross-cultural qualitative interviews. The aims were to explore how parents construe inclusion and/or exclusion of their child and how parents involve themselves in order to facilitate inclusion. Method: Parents from nine countries and with a child who had received services for speech-language disorder participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews. We used thematic analysis to analyze the data. Results: Two overarching themes were identified: ‘Language disabilities led to social exclusion’ and ‘Promoting pathways to social inclusion’. Two subthemes were identified Interpersonal relationships are important and Deliberate proactiveness as stepping stones for social inclusion. Conclusions: Across countries, parents report that their children's hidden disability causes misunderstandings that can lead to social exclusion and that they are important advocates for their children. It is important that the voices and experiences of parents of children with developmental disabilities are understood and acknowledged. Parents’ recommendations about how to support social inclusion need to be addressed at all levels of society.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 103963 |
Journal | Research in Developmental Disabilities |
Volume | 115 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thank the parents for participating in our study and the gatekeepers that facilitated the participation. The COST Action IS1406 entitled ?Enhancing children's oral language skills across Europe and beyond: a collaboration focusing on interventions for children with difficulties learning their first language? funded by the European Union facilitated meetings and made this large international collaboration possible.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
Keywords
- Childhood speech and language disorders
- Cross-cultural
- Parental perspectives
- Qualitative interviews
- Social inclusion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Clinical Psychology