U k r a i n This study, which utilized a mixed methods approach, is the first research i a study in Ukraine which explored the experiences of parents raising deaf or n hard of hearing children. The outcome of the study includes a P documented analysis and synthesis of the perceptions held by Ukrainian a r hearing parents raising young deaf or hard of hearing children regarding e n the emotional and communicational impact of the diagnosis on their family t s functioning, their perceptions of existing services and/or programs, and & their perceptions of the relationships with professionals. Three hundred t and twenty-five families whose young children were enrolled in grade 0 or h e 1 in 48 residential schools for children with hearing loss across the country i r were sampled in a survey of the study and 17 families from among this D number volunteered for follow-up interviews. The emotional impact of the e diagnosis on the parents and other family members as well as such factors a f as communication mode, availability and accessibility of professional C services, access to information on deafness, and educational choices were h i l explored along with demographic and other characteristics. d r e n Ihor Kobel Ihor Kobel Ukrainian Hearing Parents Dr.Ihor Kobel is an Associate Professor with the and their Deaf Children Department of Social Pedagogy at the Ukrainian Catholic University. Dr. Kobel has always been very active in the Deaf community in Ukraine and Canada where he completed his Master’s (2003) and Ph.D.(Alberta,2009). In addition, he has 20 years of teaching experience at the Lviv School for the Deaf. K o b 978-3-659-57772-7 e l CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION Statement of the Problem............................................................................................................................. 1 Deaf Children, Parents, and Deaf Education .............................................................................................. 1 Focus on Ukraine ........................................................................................................................................ 4 Statement of Purpose .................................................................................................................................. 6 Research Questions..................................................................................................................................... 8 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................................ 9 Definition of Terms ..................................................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER II. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Introduction: The Family Approach......................................................................................................... 13 Disabilities and Deafness in Ukraine: Attitudes and Perspectives ......................................................... 14 Concept of Disability in Ukraine .............................................................................................................. 15 Deafness in Ukraine: Past and Present...................................................................................................... 16 From ancient times ............................................................................................................................................... 16 Ukraine: Soviet period (1917-1990)..................................................................................................................... 16 Deaf education in independent Ukraine (since 1991). ......................................................................................... 17 Attitudes to deafness in general society................................................................................................................ 19 Research on Families Raising Children with Special Needs .................................................................... 20 Summary................................................................................................................................................... 21 Hearing Parents and Their Young Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children................................................. 22 Family-Centered Research........................................................................................................................ 22 Identifying Important Characteristics of Hearing Families with Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children ....... 24 Voices of parents to be heard. .............................................................................................................................. 27 Parental Reactions to the Diagnosis.......................................................................................................... 28 Family Interactions: Language and Communication ................................................................................ 34 Early Intervention Services and Parental-Professional Relationships ...................................................... 40 Family and professionals...................................................................................................................................... 45 Summary...................................................................................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY Introduction................................................................................................................................................. 49 The Survey................................................................................................................................................... 49 Participants................................................................................................................................................ 49 Instrumentation ......................................................................................................................................... 50 The Interviews............................................................................................................................................. 51 Participant Recruitment............................................................................................................................. 51 Instrumentation ......................................................................................................................................... 52 Translation Procedures .............................................................................................................................. 53 Field Testing ................................................................................................................................................ 53 Data Collection Procedures........................................................................................................................ 53 Survey ....................................................................................................................................................... 53 Interviews.................................................................................................................................................. 54 Data Analysis............................................................................................................................................ 54 Delimitations and Limitations of the Study.............................................................................................. 55 Ethical Considerations................................................................................................................................ 56 Informed Consent...................................................................................................................................... 56 Privacy and Confidentiality ...................................................................................................................... 57 Data Storage.............................................................................................................................................. 57 Researcher in this Study………………………………………………………………..............................57 CHAPTER IV. SURVEY FINDINGS Schools...................................................................................................................................................... 60 Subjects..................................................................................................................................................... 60 Representation of Country Regions in the Survey.................................................................................... 61 Characteristics of Participating Families.................................................................................................. 62 Hearing Status in the Family..................................................................................................................... 63 Educational and Occupational Status of Parents....................................................................................... 63 Family Monthly Income............................................................................................................................ 64 Family’s Primary Language.....................................................................................................................