In 2012, there were about 4.1 million parents who have some type of disability and a child under the age of 18 living at home with them (How many Parents with Disabilities are there in the U.S.?, 2018). There is an exceptional amount of responsibility and challenges that come with raising and caring for a child for any person. However, it can be even more challenging for a person who has a disability to care for another human being, especially a child properly. There are many concerns that come with the question should people with a disability be able to have children and raise and care for them. Are they fully capable to go through and handle all the emotions and stress that is associated with raising a child? When you become a parent,
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Many of these cases involve issues in child neglect and that a person with an intellectual disability is considered a risk factor in whether or not they are capable of raising a child. In a recent study conducted on mothers who have an intellectual disability compared to mother’s who do not, it was found that more mothers with intellectual disabilities are guiltier of child neglect then mothers without a disability. Evidence was found that showed “disturbed schema regarding children and more problems in active cognitive processes (cognitive flexibility, and interpersonal problem solving)” (Azar, Stevenson, & Johnson, 2012). The effects of children who have suffered from child neglect have some damaging effects on their health, social relationship and development, and their academic success (Azar, Stevenson, & Johnson, 2012). Society views of a person who is capable and considered ideal to raise a child are determined by their educational background, IQ, emotional and physical health, and whether they can provide a safe and healthy environment for a child. In my opinion, these are strong arguments on why people who have an intellectual disability should not raise a child on their …show more content…
Many programs are ongoing and can be long-term that help focuses on the needs of the individual the family, and both the parent and child need as well. A certain specific support that would be appropriate for people who have a disability who wants to be a parent are both in the home and outside the home teaching of parenting skills and parenting training in different areas. Other forms of services can help with providing healthcare, childcare, counseling, other forms of therapy, academic resources and education to improve the parent’s or person with a disability education level, and interventions to help in a crisis (Parents with Intellectual Disability, 2011). Other forms of support that are highly beneficial can be found by the persons with disabilities own family members. For instance, their parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles and so forth that can help with providing support for raising a child. In school, the IDEA act helps to ensure and provide children with a disability with free education and services that help address their unique needs and help with their disability (IDEA: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2017). Many online websites have the information to find the services and programs in the persons home state. A few helpful websites are the www.parentcenterhub.org and the www.thearc.org. A “Supreme Court held that people
Many of these cases involve issues in child neglect and that a person with an intellectual disability is considered a risk factor in whether or not they are capable of raising a child. In a recent study conducted on mothers who have an intellectual disability compared to mother’s who do not, it was found that more mothers with intellectual disabilities are guiltier of child neglect then mothers without a disability. Evidence was found that showed “disturbed schema regarding children and more problems in active cognitive processes (cognitive flexibility, and interpersonal problem solving)” (Azar, Stevenson, & Johnson, 2012). The effects of children who have suffered from child neglect have some damaging effects on their health, social relationship and development, and their academic success (Azar, Stevenson, & Johnson, 2012). Society views of a person who is capable and considered ideal to raise a child are determined by their educational background, IQ, emotional and physical health, and whether they can provide a safe and healthy environment for a child. In my opinion, these are strong arguments on why people who have an intellectual disability should not raise a child on their …show more content…
Many programs are ongoing and can be long-term that help focuses on the needs of the individual the family, and both the parent and child need as well. A certain specific support that would be appropriate for people who have a disability who wants to be a parent are both in the home and outside the home teaching of parenting skills and parenting training in different areas. Other forms of services can help with providing healthcare, childcare, counseling, other forms of therapy, academic resources and education to improve the parent’s or person with a disability education level, and interventions to help in a crisis (Parents with Intellectual Disability, 2011). Other forms of support that are highly beneficial can be found by the persons with disabilities own family members. For instance, their parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles and so forth that can help with providing support for raising a child. In school, the IDEA act helps to ensure and provide children with a disability with free education and services that help address their unique needs and help with their disability (IDEA: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 2017). Many online websites have the information to find the services and programs in the persons home state. A few helpful websites are the www.parentcenterhub.org and the www.thearc.org. A “Supreme Court held that people