Online Support Group 1 A Content Analysis of Communication Purposes in an Online Support Group

The purpose of this article is to analyze parental use of an online support group about their children with disabilities. A content analysis was conducted of 1718 emails from an listserv support group for parents of children who have been diagnosed as eligible for special education services. Key topics included the following: How to deal with professionals (e.g., teachers, physicians), family, testing and diagnosis of disability, communicating with educators and the school context, Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meetings and reports, and family dynamics. The findings suggest that parents use the group for the following purposes: (a) expressive story-telling, (b) seeking and giving advice, (c) seeking or offering validation or encouragement, (d) seeking or providing information, (e) seeking or suggesting resources, and (f) sharing celebrations and telling success stories for hope