Parents' views of medical and social-work services for families with young cerebral-palsied children.
A specialist social worker interviewed the parents of 67 cerebral-palsied children aged between three and 10 years who were attending or had recently attended for treatment at centres in Dundee and Glasgow. Data were collected on how the presence of a handicapped child affected family life, and on the parents' perceptions of the services they had received and found helpful. Although half the mothers initially were unhappy about their child being away from home for part of the day at a pre-school day placement, the majority soon found that the child's absence (especially in cases when he was receiving active therapy) made it easier to cope when he was home. Nearly half of the parents questioned were dissatisfied about the way they were first told of their child's handicap, and a majority felt they had not received enough help at this time. The requirements for a flexible and comprehensive service to meet the needs of such families are outlined.
D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012606:Scotland; D012947:Social Work; D013315:Stress, Psychological