Dissertation Information for Marilyn Money Irwin NAME: - Marilyn Money Irwin
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Indiana University (USA) (1991)
ADVISORS: - Shirley A. Fitzgibbons
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - Daniel Callison - Samuel L. Guskin - Henry Schroeder - Verna Leah Pungitore
MPACT Status: Fully Complete
Title: Information and referral needs of parents of children with disabilities
Abstract: This investigation of the perceptions of need for information and referral by parents of children with disabilities was a naturalistic study based primarily on interviews of the parents who participated in the study. The objectives were (1) to gain knowledge of the information and referral needs of parents of children with disabilities and their need to establish an information and referral system on disabilities, and (2) to gain knowledge of the use by parents of children with disabilities of sources of information, including libraries, to meet information and referral needs as they relate to their children with disabilities. Seven parents of children with disabilities who had recognized a need for information and referral services and worked toward developing such a system were interviewed to determine those needs.
The findings include: (1) the parents have a critical need for massive amounts of accurate, specific, and current information throughout the lifetime of their child; (2) they would use an information and referral system to locate services, answer specific questions about the disability, improve parenting, save time seeking information, and assist in decision making; (3) a range of sources was needed by the respondents; (4) because no one source met all of their information and referral needs, the parents expressed frustration with the lack of one service point for information and referral; and (5) although the parents appeared to think the public library had potential to provide information and referral services, they did not see it as currently meeting their needs.
The service components of an ideal information and referral system for the parents in this study would include: massive amounts of information, support for the family, and the identification of gaps. Local sites for information and referral and telephone access to the information would be preferred. Finally, the service staff should have specific experience with the disability field. A model for information and referral emerged from the study and is presented with a discussion of implications for libraries.
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MPACT Scores for Marilyn Money Irwin A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:07:50
Advisors and Advisees Graph
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