DIFFICULTIES FACED BY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THEIR NEEDS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Abstract

This paper analyzes difficulties of families with handicapped children and their needs for social services. The data collected from 105 parents of children with developmental disabilities attending specialized schools in the city revealed the time they discovered signs of their children's developmental delays, difficult familial problems after the discovery, and the desire to be supported by the society. Survey outcomes showed parents’ lack of knowledge about signs of child developmental delay, shortage of social workers to assist them in the early detection, diagnosis and assessments of their child's disability, as well as to help parents look for social services; thereby, proposing some tasks to be fulfilled by social workers to support families with child developmental disabilities.