| Abstract [eng] |
The master thesis „Modeling of Social Assistance for Families Raising Children with Disabilities“ analyses social assistance that helps families raising children with disabilities. The following questions were raised in order to answer the problem of this research: • What are the main problems, challenges and experiences that families raising children with disabilities face? • How parents and specialists define social assistance services that can help families raising children with disabilities? Is it possible to receive social assistance services easily and are social assistance services qualified enough? • How experiences of families raising children with disabilities could help to improve the system of social assistance services? The social assistance model for a family raising a child with disabilities was created according to the data of this reasearch. The object of this paper is to create a social assistance model for families raising children with disabilities. The aim of this paper is to analyze theoretical and empyrical data and to create a social assistance model for a family raising a child with disabilities according to that data. In order to obtain this aim, the following research objectives were set: 1. To analyze scientific literature that analyzes the concept of disability and that defines situation of families raising children with disabilities both in Lithuania and Ukraine; 2. To reveal difficulties that families raising children with disabilities face; 3. To perform a qualitative research and to reveal experiences of families raising children with disabilities and experiences of social workers according to the aspect of received and given social assistance; 4. To create a social assistance model for families raising children with disabilities according to theoretical analysis and practical research. 12 people participated in this research: 6 of them were people raising children with disabilities and other 6 were social workers who work with families raising children with disabilities. In order to obtain the aim of this research, the following methods were used: analysis of scientific literature, semi-structured interview and phenomenological analysis. Analysis of scientific literature and results of qualitative research showed that various difficulties are faced by families raising children with disabilities. Family members experience psychological crisis which is caused by the birth of a disabled child. Psychological atmosphere is difficult, because difficulties related with a disabled child are more than parents can deal with. Phenomenological analysis showed what kind of help a family raising a child with disabilities can expect to receive. In order to make it easier for such families, governments have family policies that offer social assistance for families raising children with disabilities. Families raising children with disabilities need support both from their closest social circle members and from professionals. Analysis of scientific literature and results of qualitative reseach helped to create the social assistance model for families raising children with disabilities. |
