Perceived benefits experienced in support groups for Chinese families of children with disabilities

Parent support groups have been considered an important channel for families of children with disabilities who seek support and resources. Given the view of family privacy in many diverse cultures, it is unknown whether or not parents from diverse backgrounds can receive the same benefits as parents from the dominant culture. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine what influenced 15 Chinese parents of children with disabilities in their decisions to participate in support groups and to investigate their perceive benefits of being in support groups. Results suggested that Chinese parents wanted to meet and share knowledge with other Chinese families of children with disabilities due to cultural and language challenges they experienced. Their support group participation led them to develop a sense of belonging and to feel confident and empowered when handling issues regarding their children with disabilities. Implications for future research are discussed.