Issues and tips for parents with disability
1 in 5 Australians has a disability of some form. For those who are parents, people’s attitudes can often be a bigger stumbling block to their parenting than their disability.
Issues faced when parenting with a disability
Research shows many parents with disabilities—mums particularly—feel society scrutinises their parenting more closely and is quicker to criticise them because of their disability.
Parents with disability, particularly mums with intellectual disability, are very concerned about the possibility of Child Safety intervention. A University of Sydney study shows an over-representation of parents with disability in care and protection proceedings.
Common issues repeatedly raised by parents are:
- social isolation
- discipline
- relationship concerns
- family planning.
Services that support parents
Government-funded support extends to people with a disability—helping them when needed with independent living—but the assistance does not typically extend to helping parents, unless the child has a disability too.
That's why the support of extended family and friends is so important.
Parents with a disability often need to adapt ways of doing things. The Yooralla website shares some successful strategies.
Discipline
Every parent wants their children to be happy, respectful, and able to find their place in the world as well-behaved adults. Practical advice and tips on how to encourage good behaviour in children are available from:
- The Positive Parenting Program—better known as Triple P—provides parents with practical knowledge to deal with children’s common behavioural issues. Free courses and sessions run throughout Queensland. Individualised help can be accessed through Triple P accredited professionals statewide. You’ll also find helpful parenting tips on the Triple P website where you can sign up to free online programs.
The Raising Children Network —an Australian parenting website providing video and tips on how to encourage good behaviour in children.
Family planning
True Relationships and Reproductive Health (formerly Family Planning Queensland) provides advice on contraception and preconception, pregnancy testing, counselling and referral.
True also provides a wide range of health information on its website.
Parenting skills development
Resources are available to help parents develop effective parenting skills.
- The Raising Children Network has parenting in pictures resources. These step-by-step guides cover essential parenting from babyhood through to teenage years, on subjects as changing a nappy and breastfeeding to tying shoelaces and dealing with cyber-bullying.
- Australian Red Cross has a family support program geared at parents of children aged 0-8 years in the following Queensland locations:
- Warwick and district, including Stanthorpe, Allora, Clifton and Killarney areas, Toowoomba and South West region
- Vincent, Aitkenvale, Heatley, Currajong and surrounding suburbs in Townsville North Queensland region
- Taigum, Zillmere, Geebung, Nundah and Banyo and surrounding suburbs in Brisbane city region.
- Parentline—1300 30 1300—provides Queenslanders with parenting support, counselling and parent education for the cost of a local call, 7 days a week between 8am and 10pm. The Parentline website explains the service and has useful tips on parenting babies, toddlers, children and teens.
Playgroups and parenting support groups
Many parents with disability feel isolated and excluded from participating in mainstream services that provide social interaction for both parents and small children.
Find out about the types of playgroups available and how to find playgroups in your local area.
Vision Australia runs quality living groups, weekly phone and face-to-face groups of like-minded people sharing experiences, information and strategies. These are not, strictly speaking, parent support groups. For more details, call 1300 847 466 and ask to speak with Queensland's quality living coordinator.
Relationship counselling
Parenting can add stress to relationships. Counselling services are available to help you manage your relationships:
- Lifeline's service finder may help you find a local community service providing individual or family counselling.
- Some private psychologists specialise in couples' therapy. Find a psychologist near you. Ask whether your situation is covered by Medicare's better access to mental health services initiative.
Safety in the home
Kidsafe Queensland provides many resources including a home safety checklist and fact sheets.
Mental health resources
- Children of Parents with Mental Illness (COPMI) provides a range of downloadable informative resources, including:
- The best for me and my baby—developed with and for women with a mental health problems or mental illness, and their partners, whether thinking about having a baby, about to have a baby or new parents
- Baby Care Plan
- Family talk—tips and information for parents with mental health problems, their children, family members and friends
- Piecing the puzzle together: raising young people when mental illness is part of your life—a booklet for people living with mental health problems or mental illness whose children are aged between 2 and 7 years. It's also for partners, family and friends.