Protecting the Rights of Parents with Disabilities

1. Protecting the Rights of Parents with Disabilities By: Ellie Dunning, Lori Hansen, Ashley Housten, Katherine Hutson, Hailey Johnson, Jamie Kaplan, Jessica Koster, Katy Lyznicki, Cambey Mikush, & Kara Peters

2. Introduction • Movie– I am Sam I am Sam Trailer • Parenting is the “last frontier for people with disabilities” in their fight for full inclusion, and is a highly likely arena for prejudice (Kirshbaum & Olkin).

3. Issue: Attitudinal & Political Barriers • Societal Stigma • State Policies • There are approximately 8.4 million parents with disabilities = 15% of all U.S. Parents

4. Issue: Negative Actions and Behaviors • In a national survey by Through the Looking Glass, • 13% of parents reported pressure to have an abortion • 15% reported attempts to have their child taken away • 8% faced barriers interfering with or preventing them from adopting • For parents with mental illnesses, custody loss rates are as high as 70-80% • In the early to middle 1900s, there were laws allowing for the forced sterilization of 60,000 Americans with disabilities, some as young as 10 y.o.

5. Issue: Reasons for Continued Limitations... • Inadequate financial resources • Environmental barriers • Lack of positive role models and familial support • Limited social support networks • Prevailing stigma and societal views • Limited and flawed research and literature • Largely unsuccessful implementation of the ADA and Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 • State codes that focus on conditions rather than behaviors

6. Target Population People with disabilities who are parents or wish to become parents • 2000 US Census polled 72.3 million families • 28.9% had someone in the family with a disability • 18% reported the head of the household as having a disability • General lack of recent, substantive data on the number of parentscurrently living with a disability • Remain a highly invisible population • Flawed assumptions about the low prevalence of parents with disabilities

7. Context • Parenting is an important and meaningful occupation • OTs can help individuals with disabilities participate in this occupation by: • Providing comprehensive person, environment, and activity assessments • Determine which supports and education are needed to enable the individual to be a successful parent • Help the individual obtain the needed supports and education • Society’s focus needs to change from the parent’s disability to the child’s well-being • If proper supports are provided and the child’s well-being is secure, then it shouldn’t matter that the parent has a disability

8. Efforts to Address the Issue Through the Looking Glass • Giving parents with disabilities the support they need to be successful parents • 3 year grant awarded in 2008 • Funds research in hopes of increasing knowledge about the issue • Informs local, regional, and national policies in hopes of a change • Baby-care equipment • Wheelchair lap trays for nursing • Baby lifters • National Parent to Parent Network • National Parents with Disabilities Blog

9. Options ADA of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on disability • Title II • People with disabilities are able to benefit from state and local government activities, programs, and services • People with disabilities cannot be discriminated against in areas of their child’s education or social services • Covers services such as Child Protective Services and public education • Title III • Non-discrimination requirements limiting exclusion, segregation and unfair treatment from public accommodations such as public accommodations, private schools, and day care centers 

10. Definition Recommendation • Child protection systems operate on the three central themes when assessing parental rights: • Child safety • Child permanency • Child well-being • By outlining these three areas as protections for parents with disabilities, the focus will be on the child’s well-being rather than the stigma of the parent with a disability.

11. PolicyRecommendation • We propose amending the ADA by adding Title VI to specifically outline the rights of parents with disabilities though: • Social policy • Community supports • Research funding to ensure that adults with disabilities will have equal opportunity to be a parent

12. Social Policy Recommendations • Increase public awareness by creating coalitions of like-minded organizations to pool resources and advocate together for change on a global scale • Increase the resources available to • Lobby • Conduct research • Disseminate information • Address framing and marketing issues • Increase financial backing

13. Community Support Recommendations • Enhancing community supports for parents with disabilities is a critical step in enabling successful parenting • Inclusive parenting classes • Flexible childcare services • Central transportation centers • Home support programs • Equipment sharing programs

14. Funding Recommendations • Creation of a coalition to compel the government to increase the scope of funding to meet the needs of parents with disabilities • Local community grants, like the United Way • National Parents with Disabilities and their Families

15. Implementation: Obstacles • Funding • Lack of money • Securing initial funds • Allocating Resources • Stigmas: Community and individual

16. Occupational Therapy Role • Person Level: Identify the client’s strengths and limitations related to parenting • Environment Level: Identify supports and barriers to successful parenting • Advocate • Spread awareness • Help build alliances within a community • Serve as consultants • Highlight the existing parents that are loving and supportive parents to their children

17. Conclusion & Discussion • I Am Sam clip Thank you for listening! Any Questions or Comments?

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