Development of a training program for parental involvement in the education of children with mental retardation

• Main Author: Hung, Chia-Tse (Richard)
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2005
• Subjects: Children with mental disabilities > Education; Physical education for children with mental disabilities; Intellectual disability; Parents of children with disabilities; Special Education and Teaching
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5889; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/12813/viewcontent/CDTG003915_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study focused on identifying the needs of the parents of children with mental retardation for the purpose of developing a training program for their active involvement in the education of those children. Specifically, it sought to determine the profile of these parents and the specific skills they need to develop in order to be effectively involved in the education of CWMR, along such areas as are related to school-based activities, home-based activities, and self-capability-building activities, and to develop a training program for parental involvement in the education of the CWMR. The data were gathered through the use of a survey-questionnaire. The findings revealed that the skills related to self-capability-building activities, were “much needed”, especially those of “knowing, understanding, and accepting responsibilities as a parent of CWMR;” “knowing and using effective parenting strategies;” “understanding the nature of CWMR;” “dealing with inappropriate behaviors of CWMR properly;” “sharing experiences and learning from other parents’ experiences”; and “planning for the future of CWMR.” The skills related to vi home-based activities such as “encouraging CWMR to share stories and experiences for self-expression and social skills development;” “involving siblings in taking care of CWMR;” “following up home tasks assigned to CWMR;” “knowing and applying effective disciplinary measures for CWMR;” “teaching CWMR with health, hygiene, self-help, and adaptive skills”; and “teaching CWMR functional behaviors” were also much needed. For the skills related to school-based activities, the activities identified to be much needed were “helping CWMR learn academic and functional skills;” “building CWMR’s confidence regarding work;” “teaching CWMR to respect others;” “participating in assessing the CWMR’s ability;” and “deciding what transition programs best fit the needs of CWMR.” Based on these findings, a training program was developed. The program proposed described the need for such a program. It also identified the objectives for which the training was proposed so that the identified needs of the parents insofar as their getting involved in the education of the CWMR was concerned, could be developed. It likewise suggested strategies that could be employed so that the identified objectives could be achieved.