Exploring fathers' perspectives on family-centered services for families of children with disabilities.
Fathers of children with disabilities feel real gains when family services speak directly to them.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Gur et al. (2022) asked Israeli fathers of children with disabilities about a family-centered program. They used an online survey to learn if the program met dads’ needs.
The survey focused on psychological, family, and social benefits. It gave fathers a voice in shaping services.
What they found
Fathers said the program helped them feel better, improved family life, and built social ties. The results were positive across all three areas.
Dads felt the service truly included them, not just moms.
How this fits with other research
Mas et al. (2019) showed family-centered care boosts Spanish parents’ well-being through higher confidence. Ayelet’s team found the same lift, but only for fathers, proving the effect holds when dads are singled out.
Mohamed et al. (2024) later asked UAE fathers the same type of questions and got the same upbeat answers. Together the two surveys show the father-friendly pattern crosses cultures.
Pruner et al. (2020) interviewed parents of toddlers with FASD and heard a different tune: families liked the cognitive help but wanted more emotional support. Ayelet’s fathers did not report this gap, likely because the Israeli program added group discussion and peer contact that the FASD study lacked.
Why it matters
If you run parent training or early-intervention sessions, invite fathers by name and give them their own survey or focus group. Simple steps like a dads-only Zoom night or a short online form can reveal whether your service feels as useful to them as it does to moms. When fathers say the program is for them too, family stress drops and teamwork rises.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Family-centered service is recognized as a recommended approach to help families of children with disabilities. However, the Israeli family-centered program does not explicitly propose intervention strategies for fathers of children with disabilities. AIMS: This study explored fathers' perspectives on family-centered services for families of children with disabilities and focused on their use of the services and experiences with them. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We employed a mixed-methods design using an online survey completed by 33 fathers of children with disabilities who participated in the Israeli family-centered program for families of children with disabilities. Data analyses included descriptive statistics and conventional content analysis. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: The majority of fathers said the Israeli family-centered program fit their needs. Participation in the program yielded psychological, familial, and social benefits. Psychologically, the program allowed fathers to mentally recharge and grow. In addition, more than three-quarters of the fathers thought their participation strengthened their family, as evidenced in more shared experiences, more effective family communication, and positive feelings. They also appreciated society's recognition of their unique life circumstances. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Family-centered services should make special efforts to reach out to fathers and create father-friendly services.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2022 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104199