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Family voices: promoting foundation skills of self-determination for young children with disabilities in Taiwan

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives of Taiwanese families regarding promoting foundations of self-determination for young children with disabilities. Twenty-one families of children with disabilities between 3 and 6 years of age in Taiwan were recruited for this study. Interviews were used to capture their perspectives. Data were coded, and four major themes emerged. First, all parents expressed positive regard for and used a variety of strategies to promote the foundations of self-determination at home. Second, parents mentioned the different challenges they faced while providing supports for their child’s foundation skills, including child’s disabilities, health condition, parents’ schedules, and family supports. The challenges varied depending on child’s characteristics, family values, and cultural environment. Third, these families had expectations that their child could be self-regulated, engage in choice-making, and be engaged in activities, but the specific expectations were adjusted by characteristics of child, family, or communities. Fourth, families emphasized the importance of positive partnership and parents’ roles to promote. Implications for research and practice are discussed in this study.

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Notes

  1. In the following paragraph, “we” is used to refer to both the researcher and the trained research assistant. The research assistant was a doctoral student who had knowledge of interview techniques.

  2. This model was chose for this study’s theoretical foundation because it primarily addresses foundations of self-determination behavior that begin early in life. In addition, the components of this model are in the inclusive, culturally relevant, and partnership-based context.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Education, National Tsing Hua University, No. 521, Nanda Rd., Hsinchu, Taiwan

    Szu-Yin Chu

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  1. Szu-Yin Chu
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Correspondence to Szu-Yin Chu.

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Chu, SY. Family voices: promoting foundation skills of self-determination for young children with disabilities in Taiwan. Asia Pacific Educ. Rev. 19, 91–101 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-018-9519-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-018-9519-8

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