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Influence of combined disability of children looked after the ARPIDA center on lifestyles of their families.
ČÍŽKOVÁ, Zdeňka
This diploma thesis deals with the care of a child with combined handicaps in the family. I investigated how the lifestyle of a family caring for a child with combined handicaps is affected. A sub-task was to explore this issue in a family caring for a child with combined handicaps who is a client of a nongovernmental non-profit facility, the centre ARPIDA, o.s., in České Budějovice. I used qualitative research methods in my diploma thesis. The chosen technique was a semi standardized interview with the parents and siblings of children with combined handicaps in care at the centre ARPIDA, o.s. A content analysis of data from individual client documentation from the centre ARPIDA, o.s., was used as a complementary technique. Based on these materials, I created five case studies of clients with combined handicaps. The theoretical part describes the important concepts and situations that are related to this issue. Particular attention then focuses on individual means of a comprehensive rehabilitation system which offer a comprehensive interdisciplinary care to families caring for a child with disabilities. In the practical part, I analyse the interviews carried out with the parents of children with combined handicaps. In particular, I examined their views of the changes that they arose in connection with the birth and care of a child with disabilities. I also had interviews with the healthy siblings of the children with disabilities. Thanks to these interviews, I gained interesting insights on this issue from the perspective of other family members. In conclusion, I state that the lifestyle of the parents and siblings of a child with combined handicaps is significantly affected by the birth of a disabled child. The parents often lose the opportunity to follow their professional careers and there is sometimes a negative impact on their health. They feel insufficiently appreciated by the state for their burdensome care for a child with combined handicaps. Due to this fact, healthy siblings become more mature and more sensitive individuals who are aware of critical life values. Based on the research part of my thesis, I defined three hypotheses in the end. Hypothesis 1: The parents are adversely affected in their health due to long care for a child with combined handicaps. Hypothesis 2: The most important quality in the care of a child with disabilities is patience. Hypothesis 3: Nongovernmental non-profit organizations are an important source of assistance to families with a child with disabilities in its natural environment. The diploma thesis should highlight the importance and unsubstitutability of families caring for a child with combined handicaps. This thesis may serve to professionals and students focusing on this issue, but also the parents of children with combined handicaps as their feedback.
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