The Lived Experiences of Immigrant Families Who Have a Child With a Disability

The Lived Experiences of Immigrant Families Who Have a Child With a Disability

Poster (LUO Remote) - Applied

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the lived experiences of immigrant families in the United States who have a child with disabilities. The central question guiding this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study is: What are the lived experiences of immigrant families who have a child with disabilities? The theory guiding this study is Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory, as it provides a lens to examine the influence and impact the ecological systems have on immigrant families' perceptions of raising a child with disabilities. The barriers faced by immigrant families in navigating a new country, culture, and language have also created barriers in family-professional relationships. This study included ten participants from around the world. Data was collected through individual interviews, the creation of timelines, and the collection of questionnaires to create triangulation. Coding was used to analyze the data in an organizational analysis to look for patterns and themes to emerge from the data. Qualitative data analysis resulted in the development of four main themes: the value of connection, parent perspective and experiences, the advocacy process, and challenges and barriers immigrant parents face. The significance of this study was found to be the importance of connection and education in developing a collaborative partnership with schools. Future research is recommended to examine the views and perspectives of both immigrant parents and special education teachers in building a collaborative partnership.