"So, I told him to look for friends!" Barriers and protecting factors that may facilitate inclusion for children with Language Disorder in everyday social settings: Cross-cultural qualitative interviews with parents. (August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jensen de López, Kristine M.; Feilberg, Julie; Baena, Sofia; Lyons, Rena; Harding, Sam; Kelić, Maja; Klatte, Inge S.; Mantel, Tina C.; Novogrodsky, Rama; Ulfsdottir, Thora S.; Zajdó, Krisztina; Rodriguez-Ortiz, Isabel R.
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 115(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-08
• Subjects: Cross-cultural -- Social inclusion -- Parental perspectives -- Childhood speech and language disorders -- Qualitative interviews; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103963
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Highlights: Language disorder is an invisible neuropsychological condition. There is a lack of knowledge on how parents construe their child's disorder. Parents from nine countries engaged in qualitative interviews. Parents reported children were excluded due to their language disorder. Parents as pro-active advocates for their children's inclusion. 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.