Exploring the Role of NGOs in Empowering Parents of Children with Disability in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Parents play a vital role in the lives of their children. Their role expands when it comes to children with disabilities. This is because parents are an essential element in ensuring that the services and relevant quality education for their children are provided which were mandated by the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Chapter 6, Article 31).1 The present research study explores the role of NGOs in empowering parents of children with Down Syndrome in Kazakhstan. Parents of children with Down Syndrome in Kazakhstan who participated in parent empowerment programs and NGO representatives were interviewed in relation to six components of parent empowerment model by Kim and Bryan (2017). This research study employed a qualitative approach by interviewing seven respondents of parent organizations (NGOs) about the role of NGOs in empowering parents of children with disabilities and parents' perception of NGO programs. The findings show that NGOs play an essential role in parent empowerment. However, these parent organizations empower parent of CWD only on the personal level but not on the public level of empowerment. Specifically, these NGOs help parents to overcome the barriers like stress, child's diagnosis, self distrust, discovering yourself from the new side but not from the legislative side.