title: Learning Experiences and Strategies of Parents of Young Children with Developmental Disabilities: Implications for Rehabilitation Professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To better understand the learning experiences of parents of children with developmental disabilities and the strategies they develop to support their caregiving role.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative secondary analysis of in-depth interviews with parents of children with developmental disability was conducted to better understand parents' learning experiences and the strategies they developed to use this learning in supporting their children. A foundational thematic analysis process was used to identify the main themes, and the interpretive process was influenced by adult education theories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings suggest that participants are highly motivated to learn by a need to understand, to do, and to belong. They also demonstrated varying levels of cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning. Learning style preferences are evident in participants' narratives and in their self-reported learning strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conceptualizing parents, as adult learners, can be helpful in designing clinical interactions and education initiatives. Knowledge of adult learning principles may enable pediatric therapists to better meet the needs of parents and fulfill their information sharing responsibilities.
authors.affiliation: a Faculté de Médecine et Sciences de la Santé, Université de Sherbrooke , Sherbrooke , QC , Canada.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hurtubise
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physiotherapy , Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University , Coventry , UK.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D059825:Physical Therapists; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Adult learning theory; early intervention; neurodevelopmental conditions; parent education; parent experiences