Lived experiences of Filipino immigrant parents raising their child with developmental disabilities

• Main Author: Bengay, Fedelynne Joy D.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2017
• Subjects: Parents of children with disabilities—Psychology; Children with disabilities—Care; Children of immigrants; Special Education and Teaching
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6612; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/13594/viewcontent/Bengay__Fedelynne_Joy____LIVED_EXPERIENCES_OF_FILIPINO_IMMIGRANT_PARENTS2_Redacted.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This phenomenological study was undertaken to describe the fundamental meaning structures of the lived experiences of Filipino immigrant parents with a child with developmental disability. There are five (5) parents that were purposively chosen using criterion sampling. The number of participants were determined through the data saturation. An expert validated interview questionnaire was utilized in semi-structured interviews to gather relevant data. The data were analyzed using Giorgi’s (2009) descriptive phenomenological method. The meaning structure of the parent's experiences revealed that the families decided to migrate in UAE for better living condition, employment opportunities and availability and accessibility of support and services for people with disabilities. The parents experienced difficulty in adjusting to their new living arrangement and unique family situation. Parents experienced challenges and concerns related to the child's behavior, health, education, family and social relationship, and dealing with service providers of the child among others. Parents utilized different coping mechanism strategies to address the identified challenges and concerns. The parents' support system, belief system, and proactive actions towards the situation enabled them to successfully perform care giving responsibilities and to address the child's needs. Different measures were being undertaken by parents to prepare the future of the child. Parents believe that parenting a child with developmental disability is a lifelong commitment and an eternal responsibility that enabled them to become stronger and empowered individuals. Recommendations based on emergent findings were discussed.