Strengthening parental capabilities: consensus-based guidelines for supporting parents of children with developmental disabilities – a modified hybrid Delphi study

Abstract

Background: Families of children with developmental disabilities (DD) experience compounding barriers to accessing coordinated, holistic support. Services are typically fragmented across healthcare, education and social sectors, particularly in resource-limited settings such as South Africa. To develop consensus-based guidelines for strengthening parental capabilities among parents of children with DD through an interdisciplinary approach integrating evidence across multiple fields. Methods: A modified hybrid three-round Delphi technique was employed with an expert panel (n = 10) comprising professionals with diverse backgrounds in paediatric disability care. Consensus was established through iterative questionnaires exploring capability domains based on Capabilities Framework. Results: Five key capability domains achieved strong consensus (≥ 80%): life enhancement, bodily health support, emotional wellbeing, affiliation strengthening and environmental control. Final round consensus ranged from 90% to 95%. Conclusion: Comprehensive consensus-based guidelines were developed for each domain, alongside an implementation framework that emphasises interdisciplinary collaboration. The study is contextually situated in South Africa; contextual adaptation is recommended before application elsewhere, given the small expert panel (n = 10) and single-country scope. Contribution: These guidelines provide a structured, capability-focused approach addressing the practical and emotional needs of parents of children with DD through coordinated professional collaboration. © 2026. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS.