Perceived Needs of Grandmothers of Children With Disabilities

This study investigated the perceptions of 20 grandmother caregivers related to their concerns and needs in caring for their grandchildren with disabilities. The research focused on grandmother caregivers who had a grandchild with a disability between the ages of 3 and 12 years. Almost all the grandmothers reported they were involved in the planning or implementation of the grandchild’s Individualized Education Program. Grandmothers responded that they needed information or help with behavior issues such as aggression or skill development in areas such as communication. Grandmothers also talked about how hard and challenging it is to raise a child with disabilities. On the positive side, several grandmothers noted that once they understood what to do, things got easier, and that they’d seen improvement for the child. Several also mentioned their joy in raising the grandchild and hope that they were doing the right thing.