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Article Excerpt
Parents of children with disabilities need correct information about, and access to, rehabilitation services and providers in order for their children to achieve improved quality of life and independent living (Kusciulek, 1999; Rubin, Chan,& Thomas, 2003). By addressing a lack of research on the provision of rehabilitation services and associated problems in the UAE, this study provides rehabilitation service providers and other professionals with information to improve both the process of providing services and the problems parents perceive in accessing those services. This should ultimately lead to improvement in the delivery of rehabilitation services in the UAE.
The Importance of Rehabilitation Services Provision
Individuals with disabilities should receive rehabilitation services that will allow them the greatest capacity to live independently. Previous research (Kuseiulek, 1999; Rubin, Chan, & Thomas, 2003) indicated that individuals with disabilities who receive rehabilitation services experience an improved quality of life, provided these services are effective and satisfying (Kim, White & Fox, 2006; Richard, 2000). Preceding research (Chan, McMahon, Koch, & Strauser, 1997) concluded that strong working relationships between rehabilitation counselors and parents of individuals with disabilities result in more positive rehabilitation outcomes and higher levels of satisfaction among parents.
Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Services and their Delivery
There are several types of rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational, educational, social, psychological and vocational services (Santana & Santana, 2001). In developed countries, these services are more organized than they are in developing countries (Brown, 1991). According to Ting and Fitzgerald (1996), these services should be made more accessible to consumers, and be delivered directly to the consumers' place in the community. Rehabilitation services should be delivered by governmental and non-governmental organizations via clear and effective delivery systems. Providers should offer reliable rehabilitation services (Racino & Williams, 1994) and insure a maximum range of service options that reflect consumer's preferences, as well as provide clear and easily-understood information about service options (National Institute on Consumer-Directed Long-Term Services, 1996). A prerequisite is that rehabilitation service providers must first recognize the diverse needs of consumers and the heterogeneous nature of the rehabilitation market (Smith, 1956).
Providers of Rehabilitation Services
Determining who is responsible for identifying the needed rehabilitation services and their providers is frequently a challenge. Davis and Littlejohn (1999) reported that no single agency can handle the increasingly complex needs of individuals with disabilities. Parents of these individuals, and professionals working with them, play vital roles in the rehabilitation process. For example, Freedman and Fes (1996) stated that both the providers of rehabilitation services and policy planners appreciate the value of including parents in the rehabilitation process. Ting and Fitzgerald (1996) confirmed that the contributions of rehabilitation professionals are very important in providing information regarding rehabilitation services and who should provide them.
In the rehabilitation process, there is a major and growing need for coordination of services, resources, program sharing, new patterns of inter-agency collaboration and cooperative services. This involves not only schools but also mental health, welfare and health agencies. Often, coordination and cooperation is more effective at the "grassroots" level, with the assistance and involvement of citizens, parents and professionals. According to Neville (2000), there should be a commitment to utilize the community's resources in collaboration with other professionals, agencies and parents, to achieve optimal accessibility, appropriateness and quality of rehabilitation services, and to advocate especially for those who lack access because of social or economic conditions or special health care needs. This research shows that, in the UAE, there is a perceived need for better identification and information regarding the providers of rehabilitation services.
Problems Related to Identifying and Delivering Rehabilitation Services
Previous research into the difficulties associated with identifying rehabilitation services and their delivery indicated that rehabilitation services should be identified through the evaluation of common factors in community-based service delivery (Kuipers & Quinn, 2003). A study carried out in the United States (US) by Jacobson and Ackerman (1988) reported poor availability, accessibility, and adequacy of services for individuals with disabilities.
Furthermore, the primary problem facing this group of individuals and their parents is the inaccessibility of needed services. These individuals usually require special services tailored to meet their needs, and these types of services are typically not available (Jacobson, 1999). In addition, there is often a lack of commitment to establish special services for these individuals because of limited consumer advocacy and support from professionals (Davidson, Morris, & Cain, 1999). The financial responsibility of care for these individuals still remains one of the key obstacles in service provision (Menolascino, Gilson, & Levitas, 1986). However, professionals can easily tailor their services to meet the specific needs of individuals with disabilities (Day, 1994).
Problems Related to Rehabilitation Services Delivery
The Casey Family Programs and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001) reported that when the service providers' approach to service planning is holistic and the communication style is open, parents receive access to the full range of services needed by their children with disabilities. Collaboration is necessary in the working relationship between rehabilitation service providers and parents. However, service providers have identified many barriers in providing services for individuals with disabilities, including policy and administrative issues, lack of resources and service availability, lack of community awareness and involvement, and culturally-sensitive service provision (Ma, Coyle, Wares, & Cornell, 1999).
Parents, on the other hand, can have influence regarding the rehabilitation services provided to their children with disabilities.
Timmons, Butterworth, Whitney-Thomas, Allen, and McIntyre (2004) carried out a study on rehabilitation service delivery and...
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