Examining the lived experiences of African American parents of children with disabilities
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Pearl Stewart
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 1:00 PM
Description
This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of African American parents of children with disabilities in North Carolina. Using qualitative research, interviews were conducted online via Zoom to understand their experiences taking care of their children with disabilities. Parents had to be African American living in North Carolina with a child between the ages of 5-8 with a diagnosed disability to participate in the study. The sample size included (n=12) participants. All participants were African American parents from eight North Carolina counties. Eight participants were female, and four were male. Their ages ranged between 25-33 years. The children's disabilities ranged between autism, deafness, blindness, muscular dystrophy, ADHD, and several different intellectual and physical disabilities. The data were analyzed using content analysis, which revealed four major themes with subthemes. This study also utilized minority stress theory and ecological systems theory for the theoretical frameworks. The four themes were (1) Lived Experiences as an African American Parent, (2) The Frustrations of Barriers, and (3) Much Needed Familial and Systematic Support. Implications for research include North Carolina lawmakers and policymakers acknowledging the challenges and struggles of African American parents of children with disabilities and providing much-needed relief for parents. Despite the study focusing on African American parents in North Carolina, these findings can also have similar significance in other global countries and communities.
Examining the lived experiences of African American parents of children with disabilities
This study aimed to understand the lived experiences of African American parents of children with disabilities in North Carolina. Using qualitative research, interviews were conducted online via Zoom to understand their experiences taking care of their children with disabilities. Parents had to be African American living in North Carolina with a child between the ages of 5-8 with a diagnosed disability to participate in the study. The sample size included (n=12) participants. All participants were African American parents from eight North Carolina counties. Eight participants were female, and four were male. Their ages ranged between 25-33 years. The children's disabilities ranged between autism, deafness, blindness, muscular dystrophy, ADHD, and several different intellectual and physical disabilities. The data were analyzed using content analysis, which revealed four major themes with subthemes. This study also utilized minority stress theory and ecological systems theory for the theoretical frameworks. The four themes were (1) Lived Experiences as an African American Parent, (2) The Frustrations of Barriers, and (3) Much Needed Familial and Systematic Support. Implications for research include North Carolina lawmakers and policymakers acknowledging the challenges and struggles of African American parents of children with disabilities and providing much-needed relief for parents. Despite the study focusing on African American parents in North Carolina, these findings can also have similar significance in other global countries and communities.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.