Literature Review on Provision of Appropriate and Accessible ...

PAGE 169
fulfilling three conditions: (i) there was no sign that children were abused
or neglected, (ii) there was no interference from a child protection
agency, (iii) there was no court ordered displacement of children in foster
care. The main aim of the survey was to identify indicators explaining why
parenting went well in these families. In relation to this aim, the following
issues were identified in the qualitative part of the study:
• The condition and degree of the intellectual disability per se was
not a strong indicator of success or failure.
• Inadequate professional support was a strong indicator of failure.
• The presence of a social network acting in support of the parents
was a strong indicator of success.
• People’s unwillingness to accept support and follow advice
tended to result in difficult conditions of family life.
Support to People with an Intellectual Disability who are
Accessible
and Appropriate of Provision on <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Literature</strong>
Experiencing Crisis Pregnancy
A consistent finding from the literature is that mothers with intellectual
disability typically experience poverty and hardship in raising their
children (McConnell et al., 2003b). Reinders’ analysis (2008) points
to the research literature, which has demonstrated that parents with
intellectual disability are usually poor and with a lower health status than
that of the general population (Emerson and Hatton, 2007). Moreover,
such parents are usually socially isolated and consequently lack the
supports necessary to escape psychological stress. McGaw (1997)
has noted from her experience that social isolation and dysfunctional
relationships are the most commonly reported problems cited by parents
with learning disabilities. In particular, families reported difficulties with
the development and maintenance of relationships, and disengaging from
inter-family fighting (McGaw, 1997: 125). Many professionals recognised
that family stresses could have been avoided, or their impact lessened,
if only parents had been provided with some support and guidance at an
earlier stage (McGaw, 1997).
5.5 Role of family networks in supporting parents with
intellectual disability
Traustadottir and Sigurjonsdottir (2008) used qualitative methods to
study three generations of Icelandic mothers with intellectual disabilities
and their children over half a century (1950-2005). Eighteen mothers
participated in the study. Data were collected through participant