ERIC Number: ED276221
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1986-Apr
Pages: 29
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Mothering a Handicapped Child: Roles for Mothers of Young Adults with Severe Disabilities.
Ferguson, Dianne L.
The study examined the experiences of seven mothers of severely handicapped young adults and adolescents by means of focused interviews. A review of the literature examined qualitative research with the handicapped and the rise of parent organizations which fought for public education rights. The roles and activities of the seven mothers in such organizations when their children were young are noted. New policy initiatives targeted toward supported work and small community-based residences for severely disabled adults are viewed by the mothers with caution. The discrepancy between public policy and the present reality of very limited services has made some mothers realize they must develop new strategies to negotiate with an adult service system that has no legal mandate to provide services. The influence of the historical time period on family and group development and lack of utilization of non-professional, informal support networks by these mothers are also discussed. A six-page list of references is appended. (DB)
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (67th, San Francisco, CA, April 16-20, 1986).