Experiences of parents of children living with disabilities at Lehlaba Protective Workshop in Sekhukhune District of Limpopo Province

Abstract

This study investigates experiences of parents of children living with physical and intellectual disabilities in South Africa’s Limpopo province. The study utilized a sample of 14 participants drawn using purposive sampling. An interview schedule with a set of questions was used to collect data. The results suggest that both positive and negative experiences are encountered by parents of children living with disabilities. Problems which children encounter on a daily basis have got also similar implications on their parents or guardians. This study has revealed that parents face many challenges ranging from personal, social, economic and financial. The study found out that it is actually more expensive, mental draining for parents of children living with disabilities to look after them. It emerged in the study that community negative attitudes on children with disabilities hinders their progress and results in social exclusion. The study also revealed that the majority of the parents believe that witchcraft had a hand in disabling their children. It also emerged that most of the parents of children living with disabilities hoped for a cure of the disabilities medically, traditionally and spiritually. However the study confirms that parents of children living with disabilities go through a cycle of denial fear, guilty, depression and acceptance after discovering that their child is disabled.