How Frustrating it Can be? Raising up a Child with Learning Disabilities

Abstract

Parenting a child with difficulties or disabilities is not a simple task—especially as parents often become frustrated with their children who differ from other children of the same age. This study documents how parents of children with learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder deal with their children’s difficulties and how they perceive the school system. Using qualitative methodology and semi-structured interviews, this study examines how parents cope with their children having learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and how they perceive the school’s intervention and assistance. This study is unique in that in addition to interviewing six parents who have had to cope with their children’s difficulties, it also interviews six young adults who have learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, to understand their perceptions of their parents’ coping mechanisms. The data analysis led to three central themes that were presented by the interviews: disappointment, lack of organized information about the children’s disabilities, and coping. This study contributes to the existing research and could assist schools in dealing with children with academic disabilities and in assisting their parents.