COUNSELLING SUPPORT PROGRAMMES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES: AN APPRAISAL

Abstract

Disabilities are found in every society even though parents love to see their children to be healthy. The issues of disabilities in their children shake the families and serve as sources of severe psychological disruption to family adjustment. The parents of such children live with many difficult issues and frequently experience trauma, grief and stress. This paper examines some counseling support programmes for children with disabilities. The paper is a qualitative research and relied on secondary sources. It is found in the study that, intervention programmes are necessary part of the process involved in supporting families with children with disabilities. Such intervention requires active involvement of a wide range of professionals such as social workers, teachers, psychologists, therapists, medical officers and many others. Skill training, parent education, advocacy roles on part of parents and professionals alike are required. Counsellors should also be aware of the wider inadequate systematic supports for parents and to advocate for more generous social and financial resources for these parents. The paper therefore recommends among other things that, parents need to feel supported and to have opportunities to tell their stories without censure, so a counsellor who is emphatic can be deeply therapeutic. Parents may also be supported in noting their resources, capacities and adaptability in caring for their child. Many parents need to be acknowledged for the courage and loving that is manifest in the care of their child. Counsellors should be mindful that parents need advocacy from health professionals who understand their situation because the barriers and the difficulties in negotiating support structures can be exhausting.