Short Break and Respite Services for Disabled Children in England: Comparing Children's and Parents' Perspectives of Their Impact on Children |
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Authors: | Vicki Welch Michelle Collins Chris Hatton Eric Emerson Janet Robertson Emma Wells Susanne Langer |
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Institution: | 1. Centre for Disability Research, Lancaster University, , Lancaster, UK;2. Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children, University of Strathclyde, , Glasgow, UK;3. Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, , Liverpool, UK |
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Abstract: | Researchers, health and social care workers often seek to understand the perspectives of children; but gathering views directly from children can present difficulties. Parents are often asked to provide accounts of children's feelings or opinions on the assumption that their proxy reports are accurate and unproblematic. This qualitative thematic analysis of open‐question responses from 352 parents and 73 disabled children examines their accounts of the impact of short break services on disabled children. Participants' perspectives differed; children tended to describe immediate outcomes such as enjoying activities and participation; parents acknowledged these, but focused on longer term developmental outcomes for children. |
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Keywords: | children disability family participation social services |
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