A research paper co-authored by Professor Jae-Ho Lee of the Department of Elementary Special Education at Gwangju Women's University ( President Seon-Jae Lee ) and a student in the department with a child with a developmental disability has been confirmed for final publication in Volume 28, Issue 2 of the Journal of Special Education, a journal indexed by the Korean Society for Special Education, and is scheduled to be published on June 30 .

The published paper is titled " The Effects of a Home-Based Floor Time Attachment Enhancement Program for Children with Developmental Disabilities and Mothers : A Single-Case Mixed-Methods Study . " This study analyzed the effects of a home-based integrated program, which combined sensory integration -based massage routines, Floor Time free play , video feedback , and mobile messenger coaching , conducted for 12 weeks using quantitative and qualitative mixed-methods research methods . The results confirmed the sustainability of the program's effects, showing that the children's developmental symptoms continued to improve even 10 months after the program ended .

The reason this study is receiving attention lies in its inception . A co-author, a current student, decided to participate in the study about two years ago after seeing a recruitment notice distributed through the daycare center his child attended . At the time, he was struggling to raise a child with a developmental disability and voluntarily joined the study after becoming interested in the term " mother-child attachment " written in the notice .

Changes were also observed in the relationship with the child while participating in the program . The child, who had previously refused physical contact due to difficulties with sensory processing, gradually began to accept the caregiver's touch , and positive changes were also observed in communication and interaction . These changes persisted even after the study ended , and follow-up measurements confirmed that the program's effects were being maintained .

The mother herself experienced a significant change . Prior to participating in the study, she struggled while shouldering most of the burden of raising a child with a developmental disability alone; however , through the program, she learned new ways to understand her child, and the participation of family members naturally expanded . Furthermore, as she gained the ability to view and explain her experiences more objectively, the direction of her life also changed .

Professor Lee Jae-ho, who observed this process of change, encouraged her to study special education together , and her mother enrolled in the Department of Elementary Special Education. She is currently walking the path of a prospective special education teacher while balancing her studies and childcare . She has become able to engage in professional conversations with daycare teachers and therapy experts , and is growing beyond a research participant into a co-researcher, as evidenced by her participation in a poster presentation at an academic conference last year .

" When I first participated in the study, I felt that the fact that the time spent with my child would be recorded was meaningful in itself, rather than the results, " said a co-authored student . " I hope that when the paper is published, it will give a little courage and hope to parents in similar situations . "

Professor Lee Jae-ho stated, “ This is a meaningful study that demonstrated that parents of children with developmental disabilities can participate as active agents of knowledge production, rather than remaining merely subjects of research, ” adding, “ The very process of growing from a research participant to a co-author , and then to a prospective special education teacher, is the most important story contained within this study . ” He continued , “ I will continue to conduct research that provides practical help to children with developmental disabilities and their families through studies closely aligned with the field . ”

This study is significant in that it demonstrated the potential of person-centered research , as it is a case in which parents of children with developmental disabilities directly participated in the knowledge-making process as both research participants and co-researchers . The Department of Elementary Special Education at Gwangju Womans University plans to continue practical research for children with developmental disabilities and their families based on field research and community engagement .