Parent Involvement in Educational Decision-Making: A Hawaiian Perspective

This article describes the results of a qualitative case study involving the parents of three children of Hawaiian descent living in rural Hawaii. Parents shared their experiences of educational decision-making for their children with disabilities. Results revealed that parents responded to obstacles with a determination to advocate for themselves and their child. Parents defined involvement in educational decision-making as (a) talking with teachers, (b) helping in the classroom, and (c) searching for information regarding special education. They experienced a range of feelings, including fear, insecurity, frustration, intimidation, determination, satisfaction, and pride. Discrepancies between the home culture and school culture which seemed to contribute to discomfort on the part of the parents were (a) the context of the IEP meeting, (b) the skills and behaviors targeted for instruction, and (c) the lack of collaboration at IEP meetings. Implications for professionals working with parents of diverse cultures are discussed.