In view of the fact that Lebanon does not currently have a special education infrastructure, the purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to understand the phenomenon of educating children with Down syndrome (DS) in Lebanon in terms of the meanings mothers ascribe to it and their description of their experience. The intent was to develop a conceptual ordering of the dynamics of the process that explains their experience and to identify critical factors that surround their quest for educational and related services for their children with DS. Empirical materials were collected through individual, face to face, semi-structured, long, qualitative interviews with 12 urban mothers of children with DS who are in the elementary school age range. Analysis of the empirical materials revealed that mothers are the vital and driving force behind securing programs for their children with DS and that they go through the following four related processes: (1) adapting to a new reality, (2) pursuing educational programs and related services, (3) accommodating to uncertainty, and (4) preserving self. In addition, four key factors in educating children with DS in Lebanon were identified: (1) financial resources, (2) mother's background and characteristics, (3) support, and (4) religion. After discussing these empirical findings and comparing them with extant literature, recommendations for research, practice, and policy development are provided / A Dissertation submitted to the School of Teacher Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy. / Spring Semester, 2010. / March 26, 2010. / Exploratory Qualitative Study, Lebanon, Family Issues, Mother's Perspective, Intellectual Disabilities, Down Syndrome, Elementary Education, Special Education / Includes bibliographical references. / Mary Frances Hanline, Professor Directing Dissertation; Sande Milton, University Representative; Gideon R. Jones, Committee Member; Bruce M. Menchetti, Committee Member; Susan Miller Smedema, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_254305 |
| Contributors | Hatoum, Rima J. (authoraut), Hanline, Mary Frances (professor directing dissertation), Milton, Sande (university representative), Jones, Gideon R. (committee member), Menchetti, Bruce M. (committee member), Smedema, Susan Miller (committee member), School of Teacher Education (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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