Needs of Handicapped-Children Parents in Relation To Some Variables

Abstract

This study aimed at identifying the most important needs of parents of handicapped children, and the relationship of those needs to some variables such as nature of handicap, child age, and parents' education. The instrument of study was a carefully compiled questionnaire developed by the researcher to tackle )5( main aspects through )25( items related to parents' needs. However, before the distribution process, a test was carried out to check the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was first distributed among )208( parents of handicapped children especially among those who had already attended “Early Handicapped Identification Center” in Amman –Jordan. The responses of participants revealed the following results: 1. The needs of parents of handicapped children, according to importance, were arranged as follows: the Need of parents for Information rated first, )78, 6%(; the Need for Explaining the problem to others rated second, )75, 6%(; the Need of parents for Society Services rated third, )71, 2%(; and the Financial Need rated fourth, (61%); and in the fifth place, (60%) comes the Need of Parents Performance. The above results revealed that all these needs were important, though with some variation, and thus must be carefully addressed. 2. There were statistical significant differences at (α ≥ 0.05) of the parents' needs attributed to the nature of handicap. The mental handicap scored higher than the rest )3.91(, and in so much as the Need for information, the Need for explaining the problems to others, and the Need for parents' performance with some variables, of course, depending on the nature of the handicap. 3. There were no statistical differences at the level of )α ≥ 0.05) attributed to the educational level of parents of handicapped children or the child age.