Empowering Mothers of Children with Special Needs in Early Childhood Inclusion

Year 2018, , 121 - 143, 31.12.2018

Hatice Bayraklı , Bulbin Sucuoglu

https://doi.org/10.20489/intjecse.512387

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Parents of young children with special needs in inclusion
are among key stakeholders influencing the effectiveness of inclusion. There is
significant evidence to suggest, however, that difficulties they encounter
throughout inclusion hinder parents to perform their role as partners. This
suggests that their role in their child’s education would be highly limited
unless their needs resulting from the challenges they face are not met. Meeting
their needs would empower them in fulfilling their roles and increase the
success of inclusion. This study examines the development and evaluation of a
needs-based training program designed for the mothers of children with special needs enrolled in inclusive preschools in North
Cyprus. Aiming to support them in overcoming the difficulties they
experience throughout inclusion by empowering them as partners, present study
employs a mixed methods approach with a dominant qualitative strand. Findings
of the study suggest the program have positive contributions to participating
mothers and their children.

Keywords

Early childhood inclusion, mothers’ needs, training program, collaboration, empowerment

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