ERIC Number: ED630764
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 161
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3684-2907-6
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Agency and Advocacy Experiences of Parents of Elementary Children with Disabilities
Rybinski, Desiree Lynn
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, The University of West Florida
Children with disabilities are a marginalized group and current literature indicates that their parents are less likely to participate in their education. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the agency and advocacy experiences of parents of elementary school children with disabilities in a school district in a central Florida school district. Using purposeful sampling, 20 parents of elementary school-age children with a disability who live in Central Florida were selected as participants. Data were collected through in-depth interviews. Social justice theory and the capability approach were the theoretical frameworks used to explore the roles of parental agency and parent advocacy in parents of children with disabilities. The major findings from this study revealed four themes common across the two subordinate research questions. First, parents of elementary students with disabilities encountered positive experiences (i.e., pleasant and helpful) and stressful experiences (i.e., unpleasant and unproductive). Next, the theme of desire for success emerged from parents' expressions of goals for their child's education and their child's life. The last theme to emerge was the desire to help others. These themes emerged from parents offering recommendations to improve the educational experiences of others. Additionally, parental agency was expressed through educational and well-being goals for their children with disabilities. The implications from this study suggest that further research explore the experiences of parents who have varied educational backgrounds to explore if parent education is a factor in advocacy and agency. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Elementary School Students, Students with Disabilities, Parents, Personal Autonomy, Child Advocacy, Experience, Stress Variables, Success, Motivation
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A