• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.239-249
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to explore process of life experience for mothers of children with severe disabilities. Strauss and Corbin's Grounded theory approach was used. Total 17 mothers who have experience of caring for severely disabled child participated. In-depth interviews was done from January 2010 to May 2011. Three to seven interviews were done for each participant. As a result of this study, 119 concepts, 41 subordinate categories and 20 categories have been revealed. The experience of caring children with severe disabilities were 'desolate life' 'plunging in darkness' 'managing to pull oneself' 'rising again' and 'rediscovering of life'. The core category of selective coding was rediscovering of new life from life in darkness. It is suggested that welfare policies need to be modified and new policies need to established for mothers who care for severely disabled children.

• Korean Journal of Child Education & Care
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.159-174
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• 2019

Objective: The study wanted to find out what changes the mother, who is the main parent of the severely disabled children, experienced in their lives through the use of day hospitals and child care services, and what difficulties they had, and discussed policy practical improvements that could satisfy both the medical and developmental needs of the severely disabled. Methods: The participants of the study were 9 mothers of a child with severe disabilities who had experience using hospitals and kindergarten. They were recruited by snowball sampling method. Focus group interview and individual interview were conducted. Results: As a result of the analysis, the mother of severely handicapped child gradually began to seek the balance of life as her child grew and became aware of the institution other than the day hospital. - (e.g) Although I was distracted and worried for the first time, I was gradually adjusting to the time away from my child thinking positively. Children with severe disabilities were also positively influenced by various experiences. They become to show som positive behavior or feeling such as brightening facial expressions or smile as they were using daycare centers or kindergartens in addition to daytime hospitals. Conclusion/Implications: Through the results of this study, comprehensive policy proposals on child care, welfare, and medical care were discussed.