Group programmes for parents of children with various handicaps.
Programmes were conducted with groups of parents of school-aged, physically handicapped, hearing impaired, and, mildly and moderately mentally handicapped children. In this paper the salient features of the organization of these parent programmes are discussed. Programmes have involved six to eight weekly 2 hour sessions. The format of each session included both lecture presentation and discussion in small groups. Discussions were led by educational psychologists using a combination of reflective and behavioural procedures. Evaluation, by means of post-programme questionnaires and attendance checks, has shown that parents have found programmes to be valuable. An integral part of the parent programmes has been the training of special education teachers in the attitudes and skills necessary for working with parents of handicapped children. The introduction of group programmes is considered to complement the individual training and counselling services already available to such parents in New Zealand.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004519:Education, Special; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010379:Peer Group; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires