Parents with a disability
Intro - History - Issues - Rights - Resources - Service
Service provision: a proactive approach
What Some Parents Are Saying about Service Provision
Parents have often indicated that many areas and services within the Western Region remain inaccessible for many people, not just those with mobility impairment or those in wheelchairs.
"The professional attitudes to disability are very surprising, because the doctors in the hospital asked my wife how we physically had sex. They think your going to have heaps of kids and breed like sheep. Or they think you are asexual or sexual maniacs". (Parent with physical disability).
"Before I considered becoming pregnant I went to a specialist to see if he thought I should go ahead. I wanted to make sure it wouldn't be bad for my disability or make the disability worse. I wanted to make sure I could look after my child properly. He gave me the go ahead". (Parent with a physical disability).
"There is a great need for empathetic doctors and health care professionals who are willing to support you and not put up barriers". (Person with a physical disability).
"There needs to be more positive consultation with services to co-ordinate and to work with parents with disabilities where possible and if needed. Where they are not needed, they should cease their assistance when instructed by the parents". (Parent with a physical disability). "There needs to be a person in the hospital, a worker to explain everything and encourage a person to get over the shock. They must be of the same culture and be able to speak the same language as the parent". (Parent with a physical disability).
"Some people have very bad attitudes, very impatient with no time to help you. We have had people say you shouldn't get married and shouldn't have children. The attitude is that you’re going to be a bad parent. They are always looking at what you can't do or assuming that you can't do something, just being negative. People need more education about disability and being a parent. Leave me alone or help me the right way. There needs to be education and consistency of helpers". (Parent with an intellectual disability).
"There should be someone you can ring late at night for support and information. Someone you can trust, someone you know, maybe a parent with a disability... …someone to listen and support you, like a friend that will give you the time. Someone that won’t go to CSV. A network of parents to ring". (Parent with an intellectual disability).
"Personally I feel that becoming a parent, with or without a disability is a wonderful and rewarding experience. However people (Government bodies) need to realise that having a family (children) and caring for them independently (to the best of our ability) is a right, not a privilege". (Parent with a physical disability).
"People with a disability have the right to chose to become a parent and should have the support needed to achieve this". (Parent with a physical disability).
"I am proud to teach my children not to be ashamed of my disability". (Parent with a physical disability).
"People with disability have the right to chose to be a parent like anybody else". (Person with a physical disability).
Service Provision - A Proactive Approach: