S Rahba “Empowering Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy: Impact of the Fav-Words Framework in Pakistan”

Abstract

Childhood disability in Pakistan exists within a complex socio-cultural matrix where stigma, silence, and misperception often overshadow the actual needs and potential of children with developmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy. In such contexts, parental understanding tends to be shaped by deficit-based perspectives emphasizing what the child cannot do rather than recognizing inherent abilities or future possibilities. This study set out to challenge these perceptions by introducing parents to the F-words for Child Development framework, a strengths-based approach grounded in the ICF model, which centers on Function, Family, Fitness, Fun, Friends, and Future.

Through a structured intervention that included awareness sessions and pre- and post-intervention interviews, the research illuminated a profound shift in how parents began to perceive their children’s disabilities. Thematic analysis revealed that the F-words framework not only reframed disability as an opportunity for growth and participation but also encouraged families to reimagine their caregiving roles. From initial expressions of grief, guilt, and helplessness, many parents evolved toward a language of empowerment, agency, and hope placing the child’s strengths and aspirations at the heart of caregiving narratives.

These findings underscore the transformative potential of contextually sensitive interventions that focus on capacity rather than limitation. By engaging with the F-words framework, parents were not simply informed; they were inspired. Their narratives moved from silence to advocacy, from marginalization to inclusion. This change was not just cognitive it was deeply emotional and relational, fostering a renewed sense of purpose and possibility within the family system.

In a country where cultural beliefs and limited rehabilitative infrastructure often hinder progress, this study affirms that transformative change can begin with something as fundamental as a shift in perspective. When families are given the tools to reframe disability through a lens of dignity, strength, and potential, the ripple effects extend beyond the child to society at large. The F-words framework, thus, emerges as a powerful catalyst for inclusive thinking one that challenges stigma and builds pathways toward holistic well-being.