Fathers’ Account of Their Involvement in Rehabilitation of Children with Disabilities in the United Arab Emirates

Purpose: Fathers’ involvement in rehabilitation has been found to enhance the development of children with disabilities. Previous studies have focused on aspects such as parenting without paying attention to the contribution of fathers to the rehabilitation of their children with disabilities. Indeed, fathers’ involvement in disability rehabilitation is very complex, which underscores the need for a comprehensive lens to study this phenomenon. Using the Epstein parental involvement model, this study explored the involvement of fathers in the rehabilitation of children with disabilities in the United Arab Emirates. Method: Thirty fathers were engaged in focus group discussions to explore their role in the rehabilitation of their children with disabilities. The data were subjected to thematic analysis, as the tenets of parental involvement were used as a priori themes. Result: Out of the six tenets of parental involvement, the fathers who took part in this study performed fully only one role, namely, parenting. They perform a minimal role in areas such as decision-making, collaboration, communication, volunteering and home support. Conclusion: Rehabilitation goes beyond parenting, as fathers are expected to participate in other areas. Practical suggestions for fathers’ involvement and other implications are discussed.