Abstract
While mothers of young children with disabilities have often been targeted in family research, less is known about the experiences and involvement of fathers of these children. This chapter reviews the extant literature from 1995 to 2008 related to the experiences, involvement, and support needs of fathers of young children with disabilities. The review identified three themes around which the literature is discussed, fathers’: (a) experiences, stress, and coping; (b) involvement with their young children with disabilities and their early education programs; and (c) identified needs. Implications and recommendations for future research and practice are provided.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Baxter, C., Cummins, R. A., & Polak, S. (1995). A longitudinal study of parental stress and support: From diagnosis of disability to leaving school. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 42, 125–136.
Bromley, J., Hare, D. J., Davison, K., & Emerson, E. (2004). Mothers supporting children with autistic spectrum disorders: Social support, mental health status and satisfaction with services. Autism, 8, 409–423.
Calderon, R., & Low, S. (1998). Early social-emotional, language, and academic development in children with hearing loss: Families with and without fathers. American Annals of the Deaf, 143, 225–234.
Carpenter, B., & Herbert, E. (1997). Fathers: Are we meeting their needs? In B. Carpenter (Ed.), Families in context: Emerging trends in family support and early intervention (pp. 50–61). London: Fulton.
Carpenter, B., & Towers, C. (2008). Recognizing fathers: The needs of fathers of children with disabilities. Support for Learning, 23, 118–125.
Cook, R. E., Klein, M. D., & Tessier, A. (2004). Adapting early childhood curricula for children with special needs (6th ed.) Upper Saddle River: Pearson.
Coots, J. J. (2007). Building bridges with families: Honoring the mandates of IDEIA. Issues in Teacher Education, 16(2), 33–40.
Davis, N. O., & Carter, A. S. (2008). Parenting stress in mothers and fathers of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders: Associations with child characteristics. Journal of Autism &Developmental Disorders, 38, 1278–1291.
Davis, P. B., & May, J. E. (1991). Involving fathers in early intervention and family support programs: Issues and strategies. Children’s Health Care, 20(2), 87–92.
Dyer, J. W., McBride, B. A., Snatos, A. M., & Jeans L. M. (2009). A longitudinal examination of father involvement with children with developmental delays. Does timing of diagnosis matter? Journal of Early Intervention, 31, 265–281.
Dyson, L. L. (1997). Fathers and mothers of school-age children with developmental disabilities: Parental stress, family functioning, and social support. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 102, 267–279.
Education for All Handicapped Children Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq. (1975).
Elder J. H., Valcante G., Won, D., & Zylis, R. (2003). Effects of in-home training for culturally diverse fathers of children with autism. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 24, 273–295.
Elder, J. H., Valcante, G., Yarandi, H., White, D., & Elder, T. H. (2005). Evaluating in-home training for fathers of children with autism using single-subject experimentation and group analysis methods. Nursing Research, 54, 22–32.
Esdaile, S. A., & Greenwood, K. M. (2003). A comparison of mothers’ and fathers’ experience of parenting stress and attributions for parent-child interaction outcomes. Occupational Therapy International, 10, 115–126.
Flynn-Wilson, L. L., & Wilson, P. G. (2004). Partnerships with family members: What about fathers? In E. Horn, M. M. Ostrosky, and H. Jones (Eds.), Young Exceptional Children Monograph on family-based practices (pp. 39–50). Longmont: Sopris West.
Gavidia-Payne, S., & Stoneman, Z. (1997). Family predictors of maternal and paternal involvement in programs for young children with disabilities. Child Development, 68, 701–717.
Hadadian, A., & Merbler, J. (1995). Fathers of young children with disabilities: How do they want to be involved? Child and Youth Care Forum, 24, 327–338.
Halme, N., Astedt-Kurki, P., & Tarkka, M. T. (2009). Fathers’ involvement with their preschool-age children: How fathers spend time with their children in different family structure. Child & Youth Care Forum, 38, 103–119.
Hanson, M. J., & Lynch, E. W. (2003). Understanding families. Approaches to diversity, disability, and risk. Baltimore: Brookes.
Hastings, R. P. (2003). Child behavior problems and partner mental health as correlates of stress in mothers and fathers of children with autism. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 47, 231–237.
Hastings, R. P., Kovshoff, H., Ward, N. J., Espinosa, F. D., Brown, T., & Remington, B. (2005). Systems analysis of stress and positive perceptions in mothers and fathers of pre-school children with autism. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 35, 635–644.
Herring, S., Gray, K., Taffe, J., Tonge, B., Sweeney, D., & Einfeld, S. (2006). Behavior and emotional problems in toddlers with pervasive developmental disorders and developmental delay: Associations with parental mental health and family functioning. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, 874–882.
Hornby, G. (1992). A review of fathers’ accounts of their experiences of parenting children with disabilities. Disability, Handicap & Society, 7, 363–374.
Howard, V. F., Williams, B. F., & Lepper, C. (2005). Very young children with special needs: A formative approach for today’s children. Upper Saddle River: Pearson.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U. S. C. §§ 1400 et seq. (1990).
Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq. (2004).
Kalyanpur, M., & Harry, B. (1999). Culture in special education: Building reciprocal family-professional relationships. Baltimore: Brookes.
Konstantareas, M. M., & Homatidis, S. (1992). Mothers’ and fathers’ self-report of involvement with autistic, mentally delayed, and normal children. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 54, 153–164.
League, S. E., & Ford, L. (1996, March). Fathers’ involvement in their children’s special education program. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Atlanta, GA.
Lynch, E. W., & Hanson, M. J. (Eds.). (2004). Developing cross-cultural competence. A guide for working with children and their families (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Brookes.
Meyer, D. J. (Ed.). (1995). Uncommon fathers: Reflections on raising a child with a disability. Bethesda: Woodbine House.
Moon, M., & Hoffman, C. D. (2008). Mothers’ and fathers’ differential expectancies and behaviors: Parent X child gender effects. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 169, 261–280.
Palkovitz, R. (1997). Reconstructing “involvement”: Expanding conceptualizations of men’s caring in contemporary families. In A. J. Hawkins and D. C. Dollahite (Eds.), Generative fathering: Beyond deficit perspectives. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Palm, G., & Fagan, J. (2008). Father involvement in early childhood programs: Review of the literature. Early Child and Development, 178, 745–759.
Parette, H. P., Huer, M. B., & Peterson-Karlan, G. R. (2008). Working with persons with developmental disabilities across cultures. In H. P. Parette and G. R. Peterson-Karlan (Eds.), Research-based practices in developmental disabilities (2nd ed., pp. 143–167). Austin: Pro-Ed.
Parette, H. P., & Petch-Hogan, B. (2000). Approaching families. Facilitating culturally/linguistically diverse family involvement. Teaching Exceptional Children, 33(2), 4–10.
Parette, H. P., & Brotherson, M. J. (2004). Family-centered and culturally responsive assistive technology decision-making. Infants and Young Children, 17(4), 355–367.
Pelchat, D., Lefebvre, H., & Perreault, M. (2003). Differences and similarities between mothers’ and fathers’ experiences of parenting a child with disability. Journal of Child Health Care, 7, 231–247.
Pleck, J. H. (1997). Paternal involvement: Levels, sources, and consequences. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of father in child development (3rd ed., pp. 66–103). New York: Wiley.
Pleck, J. H. (2010). Paternal involvement: Revised conceptualization and theoretical linkages with child outcomes. In M. E. Lamb (Ed.), The role of the father in child development (5th ed., pp. 58–93). Hoboken: Wiley.
President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education. (2002). A new era: Revitalizing special education for children and their families. Washington: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
Quesenberry, A., Ostrosky, M. M., & Corso, R. (2007). Skilled and knowledge caregivers: The role of fathers in supporting young children’s development. Young Exceptional Children, 10(4), 11–19.
Quinn, P. (1999). Supporting and encouraging father involvement in families of children who have a disability. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 16, 439–454.
Ricci, L. A., & Hodapp, R. M. (2003). Fathers of children with Down’s syndrome versus other types of intellectual disability; Perception, stress and involvement. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 47, 273–284.
Roach, M. A., Orsmond, G. I., & Barratt, M. S. (1999). Mothers and fathers of children with Down syndrome: Parental stress and involvement in childcare. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 104, 422–436.
Rodrigue, J. R., Morgan, S. B., & Geffken, G. R. (1992). Psychological adaptation of fathers of children with autism, down syndrome, and normal development. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22, 249–263.
Rump, M. L. (2002). Involving fathers of young children with special needs. Young Children, 57(6), 18–20.
Russell, D., & Matson, J. (1998). Fathers as intervention agents for their children with developmental disabilities. Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 20(3), 29–49.
Saloviita, T., Italinna, M., & Leinonen, E. (2003). Explaining the parental stress of fathers and mothers caring for a child with intellectual disability: A double ABCX model. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 47, 300–312.
Sanders, J. L., & Morgan, S. B. (1997). Family stress and adjustment as perceived by parents of children with autism or down syndrome: Implications for intervention. Child and Family Behavior Therapy, 19(4), 15–32.
Seung, H. K., Ashwell, S., Elder, J. H., & Valcante, G. (2006). Verbal communication outcomes in children with autism after in-home father training. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, 139–150.
Shandra, C. L., Hogan, D. P., & Spearin, C. E. (2008). Parenting a child with a disability: An examination of resident and non-resident fathers. Journal of Population Research, 25, 357–377.
Simmerman, S., Blacher, J., & Baker, B. L. (2001). Fathers’ and mothers’ perceptions of father involvement in families with young children with a disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 26, 325–338.
Social Care Institute for Excellence. (2005). SCIE research briefing 18: Being a father to a child with disabilities: Issues and what helps. Retrieved from http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/briefings/briefing18/index.asp. Accessed October 2012
Stoneman, Z. (2007). Examining the Down syndrome advantage: Mothers and fathers of young children with disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 51, 1006–1017.
Turbiville, V. P., & Marquis, J. G. (2001). Father participation in early education programs. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 21, 223–231.
Turbiville, V. P., Turnbull, A. P., & Turnbull, H. (1995). Fathers and family-centered intervention. Infants and Young Children, 7, 12–19.
U.S. Department of Education. (2009). 28th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/2006/parts-b-c/28th-vol-1.pdf. Accessed October 2012
Wang, M., Summers, J. A., Little, T., Turnbull, A., Poston, D., & Mannan, H. (2006). Perspectives of fathers and mothers of children in early intervention programmes in assessing family quality of life. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, 977–988.
West, S. (2000). Just a shadow: A review of support for fathers of children with disabilities. Birmingham: Handsel Trust.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Meadan, H., P. Parette, H., Doubet, S. (2013). Fathers of Young Children with Disabilities. In: Pattnaik, J. (eds) Father Involvement in Young Children’s Lives. Educating the Young Child, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5155-2_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5155-2_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-5154-5
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-5155-2
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)