Families in Society, 88(2), April 2007, pp.273-281.
Publisher:
The Alliance for Children and Families
In the present study, the authors examined 82 parents of adult children with physical disabilities from Israel. The parents described the benefits of caregiving, and reported positive feelings about their involvement in caregiving as well as a sense of personal growth as a result of caregiving. When parents perceived caregiving as causing less emotional strain (subjective burden), and when they felt higher levels of closeness with their offspring, and expressed higher levels of hope, they were more likely to indicate that caregiving yielded benefits. In the discussion, the authors focus on the importance of developing closeness and hope among parents who care for their adult offspring with physical disabilities. The implications of this conclusion for social work intervention are also discussed.
In the present study, the authors examined 82 parents of adult children with physical disabilities from Israel. The parents described the benefits of caregiving, and reported positive feelings about their involvement in caregiving as well as a sense of personal growth as a result of caregiving. When parents perceived caregiving as causing less emotional strain (subjective burden), and when they felt higher levels of closeness with their offspring, and expressed higher levels of hope, they were more likely to indicate that caregiving yielded benefits. In the discussion, the authors focus on the importance of developing closeness and hope among parents who care for their adult offspring with physical disabilities. The implications of this conclusion for social work intervention are also discussed.
Subject terms:
parent-child relations, physical disabilities, user views, adults, carers;
British Journal of Visual Impairment, 32(2), 2014, pp.136-147.
Publisher:
Sage
Despite psychological support for parents increasing in prominence in recent UK public policy, there has been a minimal focus on parenting with a disability and specifically scant information on the experiences of what it is like to be a parent with visual impairment. Nine UK mothers, aged 32–47 years, each with a child under 10, were interviewed by telephone to examine how the experience of becoming a parent impacted them. Interview transcripts were examined using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). This article focuses on two meta-themes in the findings: (1) ‘struggles around independence’ and (2) ‘visibility and the impact of the other’s gaze’. They raise issues around both theory and practice of interest to those working in psychological services for people with visual impairment, including (1) the possibility of a new integrative model to conceptualise the experience of parenting with a disability and (2) the mothers’ daily experience of stigmatisation and marginalisation in interaction with the other.
(Publisher abstract)
Despite psychological support for parents increasing in prominence in recent UK public policy, there has been a minimal focus on parenting with a disability and specifically scant information on the experiences of what it is like to be a parent with visual impairment. Nine UK mothers, aged 32–47 years, each with a child under 10, were interviewed by telephone to examine how the experience of becoming a parent impacted them. Interview transcripts were examined using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). This article focuses on two meta-themes in the findings: (1) ‘struggles around independence’ and (2) ‘visibility and the impact of the other’s gaze’. They raise issues around both theory and practice of interest to those working in psychological services for people with visual impairment, including (1) the possibility of a new integrative model to conceptualise the experience of parenting with a disability and (2) the mothers’ daily experience of stigmatisation and marginalisation in interaction with the other.
(Publisher abstract)
The siblings of children with special needs are often the overlooked ones in families struggling to cope. The author is an experienced health professional and journalist who has a sister with cerebral palsy. In this book she shares the story of her journey from confusion and distress to understanding and acceptance. She provides a forum for other siblings to describe their own journeys. She also provides strategies that siblings themselves, parents and practitioners can use to support the brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
The siblings of children with special needs are often the overlooked ones in families struggling to cope. The author is an experienced health professional and journalist who has a sister with cerebral palsy. In this book she shares the story of her journey from confusion and distress to understanding and acceptance. She provides a forum for other siblings to describe their own journeys. She also provides strategies that siblings themselves, parents and practitioners can use to support the brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
Disability and Society, 20(3), May 2005, pp.261-275.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
This paper discusses perceptions and experiences of impairment and disability from the perspectives of learning disabled children, their parents and their social workers. The author reports on findings from her doctoral study that adults often fail to take into account the views and experiences of learning disabled children. As a result, these children developed their own interpretations of impairment and disability based on their experiences and interactions with others. Whilst this indicates that they are active social interpreters, it also suggests that adults should make greater efforts to inform and consult learning disabled children. The author concludes by reflecting on the relevance of these findings to contemporary theories of disability and childhood.
This paper discusses perceptions and experiences of impairment and disability from the perspectives of learning disabled children, their parents and their social workers. The author reports on findings from her doctoral study that adults often fail to take into account the views and experiences of learning disabled children. As a result, these children developed their own interpretations of impairment and disability based on their experiences and interactions with others. Whilst this indicates that they are active social interpreters, it also suggests that adults should make greater efforts to inform and consult learning disabled children. The author concludes by reflecting on the relevance of these findings to contemporary theories of disability and childhood.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, parent-child relations, physical disabilities, social work theories, user views, children;
This review identifies and reviews the existing research on disabled parents and 'young carers' outlining three perspectives: personal, ecological, and organisational. It addresses new directions that could be taken in terms of good and supportive practice. It places this within the legislative, policy and practice context. review. Although it is crucial to the welfare of children that all parents are well supported, much evidence has emerged over the past decade pointing to the fact that it is very hard for parents with chronic illnesses, physical and/or sensory impairments, Deaf parents, those with learning difficulties, those with particular mental health needs and those with drug or alcohol related issues, to access information, resources and support to help them fulfil their parenting responsibilities. This has had serious implications for the welfare of large numbers of families. These groups of parents are collectively described in this review as disabled parents.
This review identifies and reviews the existing research on disabled parents and 'young carers' outlining three perspectives: personal, ecological, and organisational. It addresses new directions that could be taken in terms of good and supportive practice. It places this within the legislative, policy and practice context. review. Although it is crucial to the welfare of children that all parents are well supported, much evidence has emerged over the past decade pointing to the fact that it is very hard for parents with chronic illnesses, physical and/or sensory impairments, Deaf parents, those with learning difficulties, those with particular mental health needs and those with drug or alcohol related issues, to access information, resources and support to help them fulfil their parenting responsibilities. This has had serious implications for the welfare of large numbers of families. These groups of parents are collectively described in this review as disabled parents.
Subject terms:
parent-child relations, parents, parents with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, research methods, children, families;
This book explores the range of supports that parents find effective and how those supports might be improved or better mobilized. It draws from studies on the general population as well as specific service users, to highlight issues common to parents in a wide variety of circumstances.
This book explores the range of supports that parents find effective and how those supports might be improved or better mobilized. It draws from studies on the general population as well as specific service users, to highlight issues common to parents in a wide variety of circumstances.
Extended abstract:
Author
QUINTON David;
Title
Supporting parents: messages from research. Publisher
Jessica Kingsley, 2004.
Summary
This book explores the range of supports that parents find effective and how those supports might be improved or better mobilized.
Context
For many years non-technical summaries of research programmes and initiatives funded by the Department of Health (DH) Children’s Social Care section have been produced, intended to make messages from the research useful and intelligible to policy makers, service providers and practitioners. Each is produced through a distinctive process and written by an academic expert, incorporating policy makers’ and practitioners’ comments, and tries to ensure that researchers are happy with the synthesis produced.
Method
The Supporting Parents initiative is unusual within this tradition in that it included such a diversity of projects. It was therefore not possible to convene a group to comment; such a group would have been too diverse for discussions to be productive. Instead, meetings between the researchers and the policy customers from the DH discussed emerging findings and their connection with the policymaking process. When the studies were nearly complete each team nominated two non-academic professionals knowledgeable in the topic and involved in service delivery who read and commented on the project. A smaller ‘overview group’ of policy makers and members of the independent and voluntary sectors also read and commentated on the overview text as it developed. Finally, when the text was sufficiently advanced relevant sections were sent back to the researchers for comments on their accuracy and on whether the important messages had been drawn out.
Contents
The report draws from studies on the general population as well as specific service users to highlight issues common to parents in a wide variety of circumstances. It is divided into 3 parts. The first. ‘Background and concepts’, has 3 chapters, on the Supporting Parents Research Initiative, support and parenting, and the policy context. The second, ‘Parenting and its supports’, has 4, on studies in the general population, studies of foster care, parenting and support in the context of disability, and supporting parents who may be hard to help. The third has a single chapter pulling together findings and ideas that go across the studies. Appendices give researchers’ summaries of their studies and list the readers and overview group members. There are also subject and author indexes.
ISBN 1 84310 210 2
Subject terms:
medical treatment, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, standards, children, families;
This anthology challenges rigid, limiting views of what it means to be a disabled woman, and of what a parent is and does. Disabled women describe having to fight for the right to become pregnant, the pleasure of teaching children the benefits of having a "different" mother; and the delight of involving themselves in a child's life. Whether it be a birth mother, an adoptive parent, a godparent, a friend, or a woman who has made a positive choice not to become a parent, these disabled women are asserting their right to explore the diversity of experience.
This anthology challenges rigid, limiting views of what it means to be a disabled woman, and of what a parent is and does. Disabled women describe having to fight for the right to become pregnant, the pleasure of teaching children the benefits of having a "different" mother; and the delight of involving themselves in a child's life. Whether it be a birth mother, an adoptive parent, a godparent, a friend, or a woman who has made a positive choice not to become a parent, these disabled women are asserting their right to explore the diversity of experience.
Disability and Society, 18(2), March 2003, pp.179-197.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
This qualitative study investigated the conditions and experiences of mothers who used wheelchairs and scooters for full-time mobility. In focused, open-ended interviews, 11 mothers of children aged 6 months to 18 years described sociospatial obstacles and facilitators that influenced how they cared for their children and homes. Results suggest that mothering with a disability consists of embodied and emplaced practices. Women often felt 'out of place' as mothers given the relationship between mothering discourse and mobility devices. Furthermore, the embeddedness of mothering in place meant that the social and material conditions of place served not only as antecedents to mothering challenges, but also structured possible solutions.
This qualitative study investigated the conditions and experiences of mothers who used wheelchairs and scooters for full-time mobility. In focused, open-ended interviews, 11 mothers of children aged 6 months to 18 years described sociospatial obstacles and facilitators that influenced how they cared for their children and homes. Results suggest that mothering with a disability consists of embodied and emplaced practices. Women often felt 'out of place' as mothers given the relationship between mothering discourse and mobility devices. Furthermore, the embeddedness of mothering in place meant that the social and material conditions of place served not only as antecedents to mothering challenges, but also structured possible solutions.
Disability and Society, 17(7), December 2002, pp.825-843.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
This article considers the significance of a model of disability in relation to the child with profound impairment and examines the individual and social models of disability in connection with this. It is argued that although these two models cannot be completely dismissed, the models largely ignore the experience and perspective of the profoundly impaired child, their parent(s) and family. This article endeavours to inform an alternative model of disability, the 'Alliance' or cooperative model between child, parent and carer.
This article considers the significance of a model of disability in relation to the child with profound impairment and examines the individual and social models of disability in connection with this. It is argued that although these two models cannot be completely dismissed, the models largely ignore the experience and perspective of the profoundly impaired child, their parent(s) and family. This article endeavours to inform an alternative model of disability, the 'Alliance' or cooperative model between child, parent and carer.