Generations of Hope: Parental Perspectives on the Transitions of Their Children with Severe Retardation from School to Adult Life

Abstract

Transitions within families are socially constructed processes that need to be understood in both their historical and their cultural context. This study explored how parents interpret the events and relationships surrounding the transition of their children with severe disabilities from school to adult life. The study used qualitative techniques to collect and analyze data from two sets of parents grouped according to their children's ages. Results indicated that the parents interviewed tended to perceive three distinct types of transition: bureaucratic, family life, and adult status. Generational patterns of parental response to these transitions are discussed in terms of professional relationships and self-reliance. A matrix of these response patterns is presented. The findings suggested several ways in which parent-professional cooperation around transition events might be improved.