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)
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;
Research on Social Work Practice, 15(6), November 2005, pp.531-544.
Publisher:
Sage
Using a two-group, cross-sectional survey design, this American study explored the relationship between parenting stress and a child’s ability to functionally communicate within families who participated in an early intervention developmental disability programme with respect to total stress as well as domain-specific stress. In addition, this study described how this relationship differed with respect to key demographic characteristics. Sixty four parents were included in the study. The findings suggest that a child’s ability to functionally communicate does negatively relate to the level of parenting stress in the parent-child subsystem. Implications for both social work practice and policy are presented.
Using a two-group, cross-sectional survey design, this American study explored the relationship between parenting stress and a child’s ability to functionally communicate within families who participated in an early intervention developmental disability programme with respect to total stress as well as domain-specific stress. In addition, this study described how this relationship differed with respect to key demographic characteristics. Sixty four parents were included in the study. The findings suggest that a child’s ability to functionally communicate does negatively relate to the level of parenting stress in the parent-child subsystem. Implications for both social work practice and policy are presented.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, mental health problems, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, stress, assessment, children, communication, early intervention;
London School of Economics. Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion
Publication year:
2005
Pagination:
87p.
Place of publication:
London
Families with disabled children are susceptible to poverty because low income is compounded by high costs. Combing caring with employment is extremely difficult, so families are heavily reliant upon benefits. But do disability benefits provide financial security for families who are susceptible to high levels of poverty and social exclusion? This qualitative study, based on semi-structured interviews with 20 families who have a disabled child or children, investigates their experience of applying for disability living allowance (DLA) and how they use additional benefit income. Families report that DLA makes a significant difference, not just for the disabled child but for the whole family. However, the fact that DLA is repeatedly downrated or withdrawn generates considerable fluctuations in income and high levels of stress and ill health. The report outlines issues that must be addressed if reduce poverty amongst disabled children is to be reduced.
Families with disabled children are susceptible to poverty because low income is compounded by high costs. Combing caring with employment is extremely difficult, so families are heavily reliant upon benefits. But do disability benefits provide financial security for families who are susceptible to high levels of poverty and social exclusion? This qualitative study, based on semi-structured interviews with 20 families who have a disabled child or children, investigates their experience of applying for disability living allowance (DLA) and how they use additional benefit income. Families report that DLA makes a significant difference, not just for the disabled child but for the whole family. However, the fact that DLA is repeatedly downrated or withdrawn generates considerable fluctuations in income and high levels of stress and ill health. The report outlines issues that must be addressed if reduce poverty amongst disabled children is to be reduced.
The key messages of the report include: supportive practice with disabled parents will often involve working closely with professionals in other agencies; disabled parents want support that is timely, appropriate, and flexible and which fits in with, rather than undermines, family life; disabled parents are a diverse group, not only in terms of their impairments and family situation, but in terms of the way they see professionals as helping them. A one-size-fits-all approach to supporting disabled parents will not address this diversity. Good practice may involve large and complex packages of support, but may also include low-cost imaginative solutions to particular problems. Support should be needs-led; disabled parents' perceptions of any difficulties, and their preferred way of solving them, should be at the centre of the relationship between professionals and parents. Support should be flexible enough to respond quickly to the predictable and unpredictable changes in family circumstances as children grow up. The report includes sections on: ·the legislative and policy context; what disabled parents have to say about good practice; what research from a social model of disability perspective has to say about good practice with disabled parents; and strategic issues in the development of policies regarding supporting disabled parents. It also has a section on examples of improving practice, which covers a wide spectrum of social work tasks including referral, assessment service provision and review. It ends with information about a number of other organisations that may be able to provide information, advice and support to disabled parents.
The key messages of the report include: supportive practice with disabled parents will often involve working closely with professionals in other agencies; disabled parents want support that is timely, appropriate, and flexible and which fits in with, rather than undermines, family life; disabled parents are a diverse group, not only in terms of their impairments and family situation, but in terms of the way they see professionals as helping them. A one-size-fits-all approach to supporting disabled parents will not address this diversity. Good practice may involve large and complex packages of support, but may also include low-cost imaginative solutions to particular problems. Support should be needs-led; disabled parents' perceptions of any difficulties, and their preferred way of solving them, should be at the centre of the relationship between professionals and parents. Support should be flexible enough to respond quickly to the predictable and unpredictable changes in family circumstances as children grow up. The report includes sections on: ·the legislative and policy context; what disabled parents have to say about good practice; what research from a social model of disability perspective has to say about good practice with disabled parents; and strategic issues in the development of policies regarding supporting disabled parents. It also has a section on examples of improving practice, which covers a wide spectrum of social work tasks including referral, assessment service provision and review. It ends with information about a number of other organisations that may be able to provide information, advice and support to disabled parents.
Subject terms:
legal aid, models, parental role, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, policy, social care provision, assessment, good practice;
Children with disabilities, under the loving guidance of their parents-the true experts-can lead successful, natural lives at home, in school, and in their communities. The first step to ensure children lead successful, natural lives requires us to recognize that disability is not the "problem." The problem is, and always has been, society's attitude toward, and social policies for, children and adults with disabilities. Parents can learn common sense techniques for raising successful children with disabilities. When it is recognized that disability is a natural part of the human experience, new attitudes lead to new actions for successful lives at home, in school and in communities. When parents replace today's conventional wisdom with the common sense values and creative thinking, all children with disabilities (regardless of age or type of disability) can live the life of their dreams. It is necessary to define a child by his or her assets - instead of a disability-related "problem," and to create new and improved partnerships with educators, health care professionals, family and friends.
Children with disabilities, under the loving guidance of their parents-the true experts-can lead successful, natural lives at home, in school, and in their communities. The first step to ensure children lead successful, natural lives requires us to recognize that disability is not the "problem." The problem is, and always has been, society's attitude toward, and social policies for, children and adults with disabilities. Parents can learn common sense techniques for raising successful children with disabilities. When it is recognized that disability is a natural part of the human experience, new attitudes lead to new actions for successful lives at home, in school and in communities. When parents replace today's conventional wisdom with the common sense values and creative thinking, all children with disabilities (regardless of age or type of disability) can live the life of their dreams. It is necessary to define a child by his or her assets - instead of a disability-related "problem," and to create new and improved partnerships with educators, health care professionals, family and friends.
Subject terms:
joint working, parental role, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, social role valorisation, attitudes, children;
Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 13(1), 2004, pp.1-18.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
Place of publication:
Philadelphia, USA
The level of self-advocacy skills in Asian American parents of young children with developmental disabilities was assessed. The relationship of self-advocacy skills with social support and with disabilitybased discrimination was investigated. Correlates of self-advocacy skills were explored. Asian American parents of young children with developmental disabilities in this study scored a significantly lower level of assertiveness and other self-advocacy skills than did their non-Asian American counterparts. The level of self-advocacy skills in Asian American parents was found to be positively correlated with the level of social support those parents had received, and negatively correlated with the level of disability-based discrimination against their children with developmental disabilities. Longer length of stay of Asian American parents in the United States was found to be associated with a higher level of self-advocacy skills. The practical implications of the findings of this study are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
The level of self-advocacy skills in Asian American parents of young children with developmental disabilities was assessed. The relationship of self-advocacy skills with social support and with disabilitybased discrimination was investigated. Correlates of self-advocacy skills were explored. Asian American parents of young children with developmental disabilities in this study scored a significantly lower level of assertiveness and other self-advocacy skills than did their non-Asian American counterparts. The level of self-advocacy skills in Asian American parents was found to be positively correlated with the level of social support those parents had received, and negatively correlated with the level of disability-based discrimination against their children with developmental disabilities. Longer length of stay of Asian American parents in the United States was found to be associated with a higher level of self-advocacy skills. The practical implications of the findings of this study are discussed. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street Binghamton, NY 13904-1580)
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, self-advocacy, social work, Asian people, children, cultural identity, ethnicity;
Contact a Family recently carried out some research into the effect on marriage and relationships of having a child with special needs. Over 2,000 families responded to the survey. More than half felt that having a disabled child caused some or major problems in their relationship, although nearly a quarter thought it had brought them closer together. Not surprisingly respite was cited as being the most important thing that helps relationships.
Contact a Family recently carried out some research into the effect on marriage and relationships of having a child with special needs. Over 2,000 families responded to the survey. More than half felt that having a disabled child caused some or major problems in their relationship, although nearly a quarter thought it had brought them closer together. Not surprisingly respite was cited as being the most important thing that helps relationships.
Subject terms:
parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, short break care, stress, surveys, children, families;
Whilst it is crucial to the welfare of children that all parents are well supported, there has been much evidence 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 and those with particular mental health needs to access information, resources and support to help them fulfil their parenting responsibilities. The aim was to identify useful sources of information and support and at the same time to find out whether there were particular points at which parents had experienced difficulty or were not happy with what was available. The aim was also to check out whether what the SSI said in respect of social services departments applies across other agencies and the voluntary sector.
Whilst it is crucial to the welfare of children that all parents are well supported, there has been much evidence 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 and those with particular mental health needs to access information, resources and support to help them fulfil their parenting responsibilities. The aim was to identify useful sources of information and support and at the same time to find out whether there were particular points at which parents had experienced difficulty or were not happy with what was available. The aim was also to check out whether what the SSI said in respect of social services departments applies across other agencies and the voluntary sector.
Subject terms:
information services, inspection, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, rights, social services, voluntary organisations, access to information, children;