Search

ABSTRACT This research explored Polish professionals' perceptions of parents with intellectual disabilities and the former's efforts for the latter's reintegration. Semistructured interviews were conducted with two groups: professional social workers (n = 22) and professional foster parents (n = 29). The interview questionnaire comprised questions addressing the professionals' perceptions of parents with disabilities in specific areas of the support process. Data for professionals who clearly exhibited stereotypical beliefs toward intellectual disabilities were excluded. We observed that in the interviews, respondents attempted to provide a credible representation of their own perceptions of parents with intellectual disabilities in the selected areas. Notably, Polish professionals did not consider the special needs and functioning conditions of people with intellectual disabilities. Professionals' statements mainly focused on the parents' weaknesses, effectively diminishing the possibility of a realistic assessment of their strengths and family unification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Social Work / Praca Socjalna is the property of Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej im Marii Grzegorzewskiej and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Social transformation and the subsequent changes in social attitudes towards people and groups marginalised for various reasons have infl uenced, among other things, changes in the perception of parenting by people with intellectual disabilities. These changes are refl ected in international legislation and in the research focus. For many decades, research focused mainly on issues related to minimising the likelihood of parenting by people with intellectual disabilities. Currently, researchers aim to gain a better understanding of the needs of parents with intellectual disabilities, the risks that may aff ect the quality of their parenting and the search for forms of support which allow parents with intellectual disabilities to carry out their parenting tasks. In this article, the author analyses research on the risk factors of parenting by people with intellectual disabilities and the attitudes of supporting institution workers in their relationships with parents with intellectual disabilities as well as the directions and forms of support for their parenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polityka Spoleczna is the property of Institute of Labour & Social / Instytut Pracy i Spraw Socjalnych and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)