Our new web page focussed on resources and information to support parents/carers with intellectual disability and their supporters.
At DDWA we provide information, resources and advocacy for parents and carers of children with developmental delay or intellectual disability. While our overall resources cater to all family members and supporters, this specific “Parenting” webpage focuses on offering additional support for parents who themselves live with intellectual disability.
Right from the top, we quote from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD – Article 23)
The Rights of Parents with Intellectual Disability:
People with disability have the right to become parents and found a family, which includes being able to ‘retain their fertility on an equal basis with others’ and ‘to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children’…
Understanding the Challenges
Parents with intellectual disability face distinct challenges in their parenting roles. Our “Parenting” webpage highlights the unique needs of these parents and the importance of providing specialised support to ensure positive outcomes for both parents and their children.
Key resources and support for parents with intellectual disability include:
- the “Positive Powerful Parents” self-advocacy group, which raises awareness and advocates for their rights within the child protection system,
- contemporary research that highlights the need for more support and effective practices for these parents, and
- best practices that suggest increasing disability awareness, ensuring safety, building personal connections, fostering professional collaborations, and creating supportive communities.
Useful tools include:
- Easy Read resources, which offer accessible information specifically designed for parents with intellectual disability,
- the “Bumpy Road Website” that provides guidance for navigating the child protection system,
- “RaisingChildren.net.au”, which offers dedicated resources for parents with disabilities, and
- “We’ve Got This” is an ABC Radio National series that provides insights into the complexities of parenting with a disability.
The “Parenting” webpage features much, much more!
For personalised support or questions, please contact DDWA at (08) 9420 7203 or email ddwa@ddwa.org.au. Our team is available to assist with practical information and self-advocacy resources.
Explore our full range of resources and support options on our “Focus Areas” web page.
Other resources to support people who are parents living with intellectual disability:
- Change People ~A UK-based organisation that believes people with learning disabilities are the experts on the changes they need to lead a good quality of life and to get equal access to employment, healthcare, housing, community involvement and information they can understand. Their website has easy read/plain English parenting and pregnancy resources (to buy): Link to resources page CHANGE – Shop – Products – Easy Read – Accessible Information (changepeople.org). If you’d like to view a hard copy of these, please contact us: ddwa@ddwa.org.au or call 9420-7203. We have copies in our office.
- Healthy Start helps professionals support parents with intellectual disability (learning difficulties) ~ An Australian initiative that supports professionals working with parents who have learning difficulties – people with intellectual disability. It provides information and resources for practitioners, managers, researchers and policy makers and aims to improve outcomes for both parents and children.
