Ouers se belewing van hul kind met dispraksie

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Even though dyspraxia is a fairly new and unknown disorder, especially in South Africa, a fair amount of research has been conducted on what this condition entails, its causes and symptoms, as well as the resources available to deal with children with dyspraxia. However, research on the emotions, frustrations and concerns of the parents of children with dyspraxia is not as readily available. Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecological perspective was used as it identifies the family's diferrent systems where-in it functions. This can possibly identify and bring to attention the existing support systems within the family's community. The research methodology of this study is qualitative research within the interpretive paradigm. The researcher made use of two case studies as this research explored a specific phenomenon. Through purposive sampling, four parents of children with dyspraxia was identified as participants. The research question guiding this study explores the personal experiences of the parents regarding their children's dyspraxia. Individual semi-structured interviews and reflective journals were used as methods of data collection. According to existing literature, parents of children with disorders experience their children's disorders on an emotional, physical as well as social level. The data analysis have shown that parents of children with dyspraxia also experience their children's condition on these three levels. From this study, it was concluded that parents' knowledge of dyspraxia, their living environment, the measure of support and resources available, as well as the number of children in the family are all factors that influence their experiences across the three aforementioned levels. The research provides insight into the parents' experiences and the importance of adequate support for parents, and should promote general awareness and acknowledgement of dyspraxia as a significant barrier in a child's development.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University