Challenges faced by school age children with cerebral palsy in educational settings : mothers perception

Abstract

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder associated with cognitive and motor difficulties. Because of their neurological impairment and physical limitations, they have to face many challenges during their entire life. However, these children also have equal rights to an environment that allows them to lead their lives perfectly, despite their disability. In educational settings, children with cerebral palsy can earn knowledge and learn many things, but also in this area, they have to face many barriers. Mothers, as primary caregivers, know their children's specific challenges. Mothers' perceptions can give valuable insights into their challenges, and they can also suggest ways to recover from them and create a supportive school environment. That is the aim of this study to know about the mothers’ perception challenges faced by school-age children with cerebral palsy in educational settings. The study was a phenomenological qualitative research designed to collect in-depth information from participants. In this study purposive sampling was used and 12 participants who met the inclusion criteria were selected. A semi-structured questionnaire and face-to-face interview were conducted to collect data. From the findings of this research, it was seen that children with cerebral palsy face lots of challenges in educational settings such as physical and functional challenges, social and environmental challenges, emotional challenges, and challenges in expressing needs, thoughts, or emotions with their teacher. Challenges in forming relationships with their peers. To overcome their challenges some mothers suggested that schools need some academic adjustments & also suggest that teachers need training to understand disabled children better. Also necessary to enhance therapy sessions in the school. One mother suggested that if the school arranges for a nutritionist and doctor to be free at least once a month, then it would be a wonderful initiative for disabled children. Keywords: Challenges, School age children, Cerebral palsy, Educational Settings, mothers’ perception.