Parent community and non-profit organizations of people with disabilities: communication strategies

On January 20th, Olga Verbilovich, student of PhD program, made a presentation of her empirical research “Parent community and non-profit organizations of people with disabilities: communication strategies” in the ILSCR. 

The purpose of the research is to study the interaction of the parent community and Regional public organization of the disabled people "Perspective" functioning in Moscow and the regions through the comprehensive policy aimed at improvement of the quality of life of people with disabilities. O. Verbilovich paid attention to the crucial aspect of the study – changes of parent’s attitudes in virtue of interaction with the social organization.

Representatives of the parent community included in the work of social organizations were interviewed. During the interview, the parents highlighted the main problems they are faced with. Firstly, it is a problem of the abandonment of children born with disabilities. Secondly, it is a problem of stigmatization of diseased children and their mothers (stigma of uselessness) and the related problem of searching for a positive social environment. Thirdly, it is a problem of education for disabled children, the issue of their independent life. The analysis of the deep interviews revealed strategies of parent’s activism - passive recipients of benefit, situational activists and active parents who bring benefit to organization. O. Verbilovich also identified factors which may affect to the choice of particular strategy - the type of disability, family situation and personal socio-cultural experience.

Inclusion of the parents into the functioning of public organizations can significantly improve conditions for the socialization of children with disabilities and reduce stigmatization.

Marina Lazutkina