Parental agency in the rehabilitation of children with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to deepen understanding of parental agency in the rehabilitation of children with intellectual disabilities and to advance a family-centred approach by providing new perspectives for strengthening parental agency.Methods: The data consisted of semi-structured remote interviews with 17 parents whose children with intellectual disabilities had received individual therapy. A deductive analysis was conducted by applying the six modalities of agency theory to the interview data.Results: The results highlight the multidimensional nature of parental agency in rehabilitation. Enabling meaningful parental participation (Can) involves: competence related to rehabilitation (Know-How); the ability to integrate rehabilitation into everyday life (Be Able); understanding and accepting the necessities of rehabilitation (Must); and an individual approach to rehabilitation (Want); as well as the factors that enable and hinder parental agency. Emotions (Feel) play an essential role in building agency.Conclusion: Understanding parental agency is crucial to supporting parents as active decision-makers and agents in their child's rehabilitation process. The results of this study provide new insight into family-centred rehabilitation and can support therapists and other professionals in integrating collaborative approaches into their clinical practice.