Formal and informal support services available to parents of in-school children with disabilities in Ghana

Abstract

Parenting children with disabilities has been found to involve stressful and challenging experiences. However, studies are yet to delve deeply into the support services available in society for parents and their children with disabilities, especially in the African context. The social model of disability was used as this study’s lens to understand the accessibility of formal and informal support services to children with disabilities and their families in Ghana. A semi-structured interview guide was used for the data collection from 16 parents whose children were enrolled in special and inclusive schools in Ghana. The data collected were analysed thematically. The results showed that both formal and informal support services were inaccessible to parents. In particular, certain barriers, including stereotypes, labels and religious interpretations of disability, had adverse impacts on informal support services to parents and their children with disabilities. The study recommends the establishment of counsellor services and educational programmes for parents following the child’s disability diagnosis.