A Narrative Inquiry into the Life of a Mother for a Child with Developmental Disabilities

Authors

Ohsun Chang, Kongju National UniversityFollow
Jaeyoung Hong, Kongju National University
Byungun Jeon, Kongju National University

Abstract

This study explores the life story of Jane, who has an adult child with developmental disabilities and who serves as the director of a community welfare center for people with developmental disabilities in South Korea. To this end, this study used narrative inquiry methodology. The experience of a parent was described in terms of the following themes: (i) Narrative experience as a parent in a family: The irony of life—living in a place where guilt and desire coexist, Sub theme: Building up a broader window of communication; (ii) Narrative Experience as the head of an institution: Learning betrayal and making considerations, Sub theme: Breaking free from obsession and finding genuine happiness. In South Korea, there is growing societal interest in adults with developmental disabilities and their families. In this social context, the authors of this study hope that the story of a participant like Jane will help adults with developmental disabilities, parents of children with other types of disabilities, and heads of institutions that provide care for them reflect on and have a deeper understanding of their lives, and present future visions for themselves.

Keywords

adults with developmental disabilities, mother raising a child with developmental disabilities, narrative inquiry

Author Bio(s)

Ohsun Chang is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Special Education at Kongju National University in Republic of Korea. She is interested in special education curriculum research. Please direct correspondence to jeonun@kongju.ac.kr

Jaeyoung Hong received her doctoral degree from the Department of Special Education at Kongju National University in Republic of Korea and is currently serving as a professor in the Department of Special Education at Kongju National University in Republic of Korea . He is interested in special education curriculum research.

Byungun Jeon graduated from the Department of Special Education at Dankook University in Republic of Korea and received a doctoral degree. He is currently serving as a professor in the Department of Special Education at Kongju University in Republic of Korea. He is interested in special education curriculum research.

Publication Date

5-22-2024

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2024.6445

Recommended APA Citation

Chang, O., Hong, J., & Jeon, B. (2024). A Narrative Inquiry into the Life of a Mother for a Child with Developmental Disabilities. The Qualitative Report, 29(5), 1496-1512. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2024.6445

ORCID ID

0000-0002-3449-5545