Parents voice. Perspectives on Social Inclusion of Children with Disabilities

In contemporary society, social inclusion of children with disabilities represents a major challenge, having a profound impact on the quality of life of both children and their families. According to the WHO, approximately 15% of the global population live with some form of disability, and a significant proportion of these are children. In Romania, people with disabilities face numerous barriers to social inclusion, in the educational system as children and in the labor market as adults, these barriers being amplified by societal attitudes and the lack of adequate resources. This study focuses on parents' perspective regarding the social inclusion of children with disabilities, an essential subject for understanding and addressing the challenges faced by these families. Exploring parents' perceptions and experiences can provide valuable information for developing more efficient and inclusive policies and programs. Through a qualitive approach, we will analyze parents’ perception of the main problems faced by children with disabilities, including limited access to quality education, social stigmatization, difficulties in obtaining health and therapy services, and insufficient institutional support. Results show the impact of these challenges on parents' perspective on their children's future and potential solutions that could improve social inclusion. The paper highlights the importance of community support and of adapted educational and professional strategies in the improvement of the quality of life of children with disabilities and of their families.


Keywords: social inclusion, disability, children, challenges, parents