A Qualitative Study on Psychosocial Challenges of Parents Having Children withNeurodevelopmental Disabilities

Parenting a child with a neurodevelopmental disability, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability or Specific Learning Disability, is itself a complex psychosocial journey through which the parent has to travel, first in early childhood and later during adolescence and adulthood. Due to a lack of awareness, institutional support and social stigma, Indian parents often report higher levels of parental stress and emotional burden. With increased educational inclusion under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, understanding the psychosocial realities of such parents is critical to create sustainable pathways toward inclusive higher education for learners with disabilities.
The study sets out to investigate the psychosocial experiences, challenges and coping strategies that parents of children with NDDs face, and it aims to identify how these experiences inform the creation of inclusive educational transitions, particularly toward higher education.