Parental Roles in Nurturing Children with Special Needs: An Ecological and Qualitative-Descriptive Study

Poor parental role in nurturing children with special needs is disconcerting. Using a qualitative descriptive design, this study explored the roles of parents nurturing children with special needs. The researcher interviewed 10 purposively selected parents and analyzed their perceptions using thematic analysis. Consequently, this study found that parents of children with special needs view caregiving as a shared and collaborative effort that fosters independence, strong family bonds, and active home–school partnerships, yet is hindered by economic hardship and limited institutional and therapy support. School leaders may initiate family day activities to strengthen bonding, organize therapy missions by inviting therapists for children with special needs, review and align institutional policies with learners’ needs, and collaborate with Non-Governmental Organizations and Local Government Units to provide livelihood training and financial support for families. Future research may use Multiple Linear Regression and Exploratory Factor Analysis to validate key factors and develop instruments on parental roles in children with special needs.