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Parents with intellectual disability pilot project
- Author:
- ALEXANDER Angela
- Journal article citation:
- Disability, Pregnancy and Parenthood International, 75, Spring 2012, pp.12-20.
- Publisher:
- National Centre for Disabled Parents
This paper describes a peer support group set up to support parents with intellectual disability in Victoria, Australia. The group, called Totally Awesome Parents (TAP), was established as part of the 2011 Parenting with Intellectual Disability (PWID) pilot project. The project was set up amid concerns over the overrepresentation of families of parents with an intellectual disability in areas such as child protection and out of home care. The key initial aim of the group was to address social isolation and facilitate healthy positive friendships. The weekly sessions are informal, relaxed and fun. Families enjoy sharing morning tea during activities and discussion. The group has become a significant learning environment for parent participants, as well as a community supported project benefiting from enthusiastic volunteer involvement and extensive networking at both a local and global level. Participant parents report and demonstrate increased confidence and self-esteem, evident by their growing willingness to actively share skills, tell their stories, and take on co-facilitator roles.
Spinal injuries parenting master class
- Author:
- BAILEY Jackie
- Journal article citation:
- Disability, Pregnancy and Parenthood International, 75, Spring 2012, pp.21-27.
- Publisher:
- National Centre for Disabled Parents
Participants at self-advocacy courses run by the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) at spinal injury centres have been requesting further information about parenting. In response, SIA have developed parenting sessions which have been delivered at 6 different spinal injury centres since June 2011. The course helps to explore all of the options available to help with conception and any pre-planning that may be required, coping with pregnancy and childbirth, and the support, aids and equipment that are available to assist parents with a disability. Participants have included couples who have managed to conceive through artificial insemination carried out at home, couples who have started the process of in vitro fertilisation treatment, and staff who work with spinal cord injured clients. Peer support has been an important aspect of the class; participants have been sharing their experiences of fertility, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and looking after babies and toddlers. Other important components of the course include personal care during pregnancy and making sure that maternity centre staff are informed of issues pertinent to the mother. Over 80% of course participants have felt the course has been of help in increasing their understanding of the issues around becoming a parent following a spinal cord injury.