Abstract

Parenting a child with disability, whether a child has a physical disability, a learning disability, an emotional difficulty, or a developmental disorder, can require the development of particular skills, such as caregiving or advocacy, as well as a time and energy commitment that may put careers, marriages, and relationships with other children in danger. Researchers have extensively researched parenting over the years. But, in recent years, it has been noticed that this parenting study has placed a greater emphasis on constructive methods. The present study aimed to understand and assess the needs of parents who have children with Intellectual and Developmental Disability. The main objective of the study is to assess the needs of parents having children with Intellectual and Developmental Disability. Twenty parents (both mother and father) were included in the study as sample from Shishumangal child development centre in Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur district. The assessment was done by using NIMH-Family Needs Schedule (Parents) to measure needs of the parents. In the present study data were collected by Descriptive Survey method. The collected data were analysed by descriptive statistics and percentage count. The result of the study indicated that the majority of parents showed strong needs in the domain of information condition, child management, services available for their child, Govt benefits and legislation, financial needs, vocational planning, personal-emotional and personal-social relationships. Parents showed less expected needs towards the sexuality, marriage and hostel related information. Mothers showed more needs in the domain of child management and information condition; while fathers expressed needs in the domain of financial help, vocational planning and Govt benefits. This study contributes to a better understanding of parents' needs from their perspectives, as well as their descriptions of the strengths and gaps of the present system. A deeper comprehension of parents' demands could help communities execute government policies and service models more effectively and provide financial assistance to families with poor socioeconomic status.