Factors that positively influence family members who educate persons with intellectual disabilities

Šio tyrimo tikslas buvo atskleisti veiksnius, sąlygojančius pozityvią įtaką šeimos nariams ugdantiems proto negalią turinčius asmenis. Šiuo tyrimu siekiama suderinti globalią ir plačiai aprėpiančią negalios, kaip reiškinio, teorinę analizę (apimančią istorinę požiūrio į neįgaliuosius raidą, globalią neįgaliųjų situaciją, Europos Sąjungos socialinės politikos raidą bei probleminės situacijos Lietuvoje analizę) su labai konkrečia keleto šeimos narių patirtimi ugdant proto negalią turinčius asmenis – savo vaikus ar kitus giminaičius. Empiriniame kokybiniame tyrime dalyvavo 6 moterys iš Kauno, ugdančios proto negalią turinčius asmenis, kuriems diagnozuotas Dauno sindromas ar autizmas. Jos buvo paprašytos atsakyti į interviu klausimus arba užpildyti klausimyną apie pozityvios įtakos veiksnius su atvirais klausimais. Buvo atlikta kokybinė turinio analizė ir išskirti 85 vienas su kitu susiję ir vienas iš kito kylantys veiksniai, sąlygojantys proto negalią turinčių asmenų ugdymo pozityvią įtaką jų šeimos nariams. Jie suskirstyti į 5 kategorijas (pagalbos priėmimas; ugdytojo pastangos; neįgalaus vaiko dovana ir pastangos; įgalinančios priemonės bei vaiko su negalia ugdymo vaisiai) ir 19 subkategorijų. Šie veiksniai gali parodyti sunkumus patiriančioms šeimoms, kur ieškoti pozityvios įtakos veiksnių, padedančių perkeisti požiūrį į neįgalų vaiką ir atrasti stiprybės įveikti stresines situacijas.The aim of this study was to expose the factors that positively influence family members who educate persons with intellectual disabilities. There have been many studies done on the problems that arise in educating people with intellectual disabilities. But only few of them also discuss the positive influence made by people with disabilities. This lack of studies of positive factors related to persons with disabilities can negatively influence an overall attitude towards them. This study aims to coordinate a global and widely reaching analysis of disability, as a phenomenon (including the historical analysis of the attitude towards disabled persons, the contemporary global situation of people with disabilities, the evolution of the European social politics, and the analysis of problems encountered by persons with disabilities and their families in Lithuania) with the concrete experience of several members of the families in educating persons with intellectual disabilities - their children or other relatives. The subjects of the empirical qualitative study were 6 women, Kaunas residents, members of the communities of \"Faith and Light\" uniting families of children with disabilities. The persons they educated had a Down syndrome or autism. These women were interviewed (two of them filled in the same questionnaire in writing) on the factors positively influencing their life with disabled persons. The qualitative content analysis of the answers gave 85 factors, related with each other, that positively influence families who educate persons with intellectual disabilities. These factors were classified into 5 categories (the acceptance of help; the efforts of the educator; the gift and the efforts of a child with disabilities; enabling measures; the fruits of education of a child with disabilities) and 19 subcategories. These factors can show to the families having persons with disabilities that undergo difficulties, which things can positively influence their situation, help to change their attitude towards disabled persons and their disabilities, and to find strength to cope with stressful situations.Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta