The Impact of Children with Intellectual Impairment on Families: The Case of Dagbreek and Môreson Centres in the Khomas Education Region of Namibia

This qualitative study was designed to investigate the experiences, feelings and views of families with intellectually impaired children at the Dagbreek and Môreson Centres in the Khomas Education region of Namibia. For the purpose of this study, a qualitative approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were carried out to collect data with a sample of ten families whose children attended school at the aforementioned Centre’s. The data collected was analyzed using thematic content analysis. Four sub- themes were identified and from them it was discovered that the ‘overall experience of their children’s impairment’ by parents and guardians was unique since they had mixed feelings (both positive and negative) and had different reactions to the diagnosis of their children’s impairment. The study noted that the existence of an intellectually impaired child in the family has a major impact on family members, the relationships of parents, separation of parents, extended families as well as on the public or community members