Communication Design guideline with Families of Special Needs Children Increasing Their Self-Esteem Through Heart by Brain Communication Activities to Heal Us.

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1) study personal information, social status, and family duty attitude; 2) explain factors that affect internal communication through self-esteem; and 3) utilize communication factors to design appropriate communication by oneself.

A qualitative method is employed in this study, using the systematic learning design and development process (ADDIE Model) to collect data through in-depth interviews with eight families of special needs children.

It was found that the factors affecting communication in families with special needs included both internal and external factors such as social status and attitude. The internal communication affected the acceptance of the differences in their children, which increased self-esteem in families with special needs children. A Heart Head Heal Model presented additional information for attitude adjustment that led to behavior change. This took time and went through different stages of acceptance. Communication could be a channel of knowledge to create understanding and adjust the construction of acceptance and understanding to be more flexible. In addition, findings demonstrated that parents of families with special children could build immunity and strength within their families through effective communication to reduce pressure from society sensibly and creatively. This could significantly help children with special needs develop their potential.