Raising a child with disability and dealing with life events A mother’s journey

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disabilities Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 376 - 386
• Main Authors: O’Connell, Tina, O’Halloran, Maeve, Doody, Owen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-12-2013; Sage Publications
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Autism; Biological and medical sciences; Child clinical studies; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - nursing; Child Rearing; Coping; Developmental disorders; Disabilities; Disabled Children - psychology; Family Life Education; Female; Humans; Infantile autism; Intellectual deficiency; Intellectual Disability; Listening; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mother-Child Relations - psychology; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Parent Child Relationship; Parenting Skills; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Phenomenology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reflection; listening; mother; autism spectrum disorder; families; coping; Social environment; Human; Handicap; Developmental disorder; Autism spectrum disorder; Disability; Autism; Pervasive developmental disorder; Life events; Mother; Intellectual deficiency; Family environment; Coping; Child
• ISSN: 1744-6295; 1744-6309
• DOI: 10.1177/1744629513509794

Intellectual disability services recognise people with intellectual disability as a family member and aim to provide effective support that facilitates family cohesion. However, the needs of families and individuals within the family should be addressed in a holistic manner to ensure a seamless service. This article outlines a mother’s reflections on her experience of raising a child with autism spectrum disorder and its impact on her life. The article focuses on one mother’s feelings, coping or lack of coping and growth during a time of sadness. This article written by a mother, nurse and academic through their shared interest in supporting families of children with a disability all came together to tell this story. It is hoped that this article will assist professionals understand a mother’s perspective when raising a child with intellectual disability and support professionals to recognise the importance of listening, coordinated support and working in partnership.