Caregivers Role in Fostering Independence of Children with Special Needs at Bhakti Luhur Dormitory

Ilomata International Journal of Social Science P-ISSN: 2714-898X; E-ISSN: 2714-8998 Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2025 Page no. 135 - 148 Caregivers Role in Fostering Independence of Children with Special Needs at Bhakti Luhur Dormitory Lorentius Goa1, Emmeria Tarihoran2 , Marianus Rago Kristeno3 123 Sekolah Tinggi Pastoral -Yayasan Institut Pastoral Indonesia, Indonesia Correspondent: [email protected] Received : November 29, 2024 Accepted : January 6, 2025 Published : January 31, 2025 Citation: Goa L, Tarihoran E, & Kristeno M. R. (2025). Caregiver Role in Fostering Independence of Children with Special Needs at Bhakti Luhur Dormitory. Ilomata International Journal of Social Science, 6(1), 135 – 148. https://doi.org/10.61194/ijss.v6i1.1559 ABSTRACT: This article explores the role of caregivers in fostering independence among children with special needs at Bhakti Luhur Putra Dormitory. The study focuses on parenting strategies that enhance self-care abilities, which are crucial for improving these children's quality of life and social integration. Despite existing studies on caregiving for children with disabilities, limited attention has been given to institutional settings where personalized care and empowerment-based approaches are applied. This study uses a qualitative research methodology, utilizing interviews, observations, and document analysis to collect data from eleven Bhakti Luhur Putra Dormitory caregivers. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and document analysis involving eleven caregivers with significant experience. The findings highlight that emotional support, structured training, and personalized care are vital strategies for promoting independence. These approaches foster children's confidence, encourage selfreliance, and help them integrate into broader social environments. This research provides practical insights for improving caregiving practices in institutional contexts. It contributes to the literature by offering a focused understanding of how specific caregiving strategies impact the autonomy of children with special needs. Recommendations include integrating emotional intelligence and structured independence training into caregiver development programs for better developmental outcomes. The study also highlights the importance of adapting care strategies to meet the unique needs of each child, ensuring long-term benefits for their personal growth and social participation. Keywords: Caregiver; Independence; Children with Special Needs; Emotional Support; Structured Training This is an open access article under the CC-BY 4.0 license 135| Ilomata International Journal of Social Science https://www.ilomata.org/index.php/ijss Caregivers' Role in Fostering Independence of Children with Special Needs at Bhakti Luhur Dormitory Goa, Tarihoran, and Kristeno INTRODUCTION Human development spans all life stages, but individuals with disabilities often face significant social and functional barriers. In Indonesia, around 22.97 million people, or around 8.5% of the total population, have the majority of disabilities in the elderly group (Supanji, 2023). Children with special needs experience physical, mental, or other social behaviour characteristics or abnormalities (Darmawati & Indriawati, 2021). Children with special needs (ABK) are a group that needs special attention and support in developing their independence and social skills (Herman & Ramdhani, 2022). The level of intellectual disability varies from mild to severe, reflecting the limitations in intellectual and adaptive functioning and the level of support required (Westrop et al., 2024). In Indonesia, data shows that the population of children with special needs continues to increase, with various challenges faced by both families and institutions that provide care for them. One institution that has an essential role in supporting the development of ABK is Bhakti Luhur, which focuses on empowering children who need special attention. This social condition shows that empowering parenting is necessary to help ABK develop independence and adapt to society. Children with intellectual disabilities often face barriers to achieving independence due to cognitive limitations and social obstacles, which usually hinder the development of their autonomy. Meanwhile, according to (Vaucher et al., 2020), for individuals with intellectual disabilities, the ability to exercise self-determination is influenced by personal traits and social-environmental factors. Research shows that these children need a specific parenting approach and ongoing support to help them develop optimally (Savari et al., 2023). Caregivers play an essential role in improving the independence and autonomy of children with special needs, primarily through personalized care. A study by Vanderkerken et al. (2019) emphasizes the importance of formal and informal support from the family and environment in supporting the quality of life of children with special needs. In Indonesia, institutions such as the Bhakti Luhur Dormitory have long been the primary environment where children with special needs receive personalized care. Caregivers also have the duty and responsibility to care for children lovingly, nurturing, guiding, and training children both in daily activities and spiritual life(Goa, 2020). Studies on such services are limited, but it is important to note that these institutions provide significant support in developing children with special needs through a community approach (Vaucher et al., 2020). More research on the direct impact of parenting practices in nursing institutions in Indonesia indicates the need for further study. Empirical research can explore how these parenting practices affect a child's personal development and contribute to long-term independence (Gardiner et al., 2019). Although the study recognizes the importance of caregivers in the social development of children with disabilities, there is still uncertainty about how particular parenting strategies in institutional settings such as Bhakti Luhur directly contribute to fostering independence. This study intends to investigate the following questions: (1) What unique parenting practices contribute the most to the autonomy of children with moderate Grahita Deficiency? (2) How is the approach to caregiver empowerment aligned with child development milestones? By answering these questions, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of parenting in Bhakti Luhur and offer insights that can inform better parenting models. 136| Ilomata International Journal of Social Science https://www.ilomata.org/index.php/ijss Caregivers' Role in Fostering Independence of Children with Special Needs at Bhakti Luhur Dormitory Goa, Tarihoran, and Kristeno The complexity of this problem lies in the multifaceted nature of the development of independence among children with intellectual di (...truncated)