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Parents as developmental partners: Building a Development-Promoting Environment for children with Profound
Ines Van Keer1, Evy Meys1, Bea Maes1
1University of Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Unit Parenting and Special Education, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, box 3765, Leuven 3000, Belgium.
Research in Developmental Disabilities
|December 18, 2025
Summary
Parents of children with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities (PIMD) actively create development-promoting environments through deliberate planning and implementation. Their child's progress influences this process, highlighting the need for societal support.
Area of Science:
- Child Development
- Disability Studies
- Family Support
Background:
- Parents of children with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities (PIMD) face significant practical, medical, and administrative challenges.
- Understanding parents' perceptions and management of their role as their child's developmental partner is limited.
- This study explores how parents fulfill their role as developmental partners for children with PIMD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate a grounded theory explaining how parents of children with PIMD fulfill their role as developmental partners.
- To understand the processes parents employ in fostering their child's development.
- To identify factors influencing parents' ability to act as developmental partners.
Main Methods:
- Grounded Theory Method was employed.
- Interviews were conducted with parents of nine children with PIMD (aged 0-12 years).
- Iterative coding and thematic saturation were achieved over three rounds.
Main Results:
- A Dynamic Development-Promoting Environment (DPE) model was developed.
- Parents continually create a DPE through deliberation (choosing opportunities) and delivery (implementation).
- The child's developmental progress significantly influences these parental processes.
Conclusions:
- Parents' networks and society act as secondary developmental partners but can also present barriers.
- Increased societal inclusivity and shared responsibility can enhance family quality of life.
- Greater support allows parents more time, energy, and mental space for their developmental partner role.
Keywords:
DevelopmentGrounded theoryIntensive support needsParentsProfound intellectual and multiple disabilitiesTheoretical modelMore Related Videos
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