Professionals' Attitudes on Partnering with Families of Children and Youth with Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to examine the professionals' perspectives regarding characteristics of effective partnerships with parents. The sample involved 20 professionals representing the backgrounds of occupational therapists/physical therapists/speech-language pathologists, special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and health professionals. The following three themes were identified through qualitative analysis: (a) gap between family-centered language and actions; (b) “Goldilocks” perception (i.e., the perception that parents may be involved too much, too little, or just right); and (c) parental blame. Future directions for research and practice are suggested.