Discovering the Unpredicted Journey

Abstract

Parents of children with disabilities confront numerous challenges from childbirth, sorted into five types. First, emotional hurdles, emerging during childbirth, involve denial, guilt, anger, depression, anxiety, bargaining, fear, exhaustion, and stress. Second, financial burdens, encompassing treatment expenses, medications, equipment, and employment obstacles, significantly impact parents. Third, educational challenges faced by disabled parents include funding gaps, school barriers, accommodation shortages, negative attitudes, scheme unawareness, communication barriers, and power dynamics. Fourth, social obstacles, such as stigma, support deficiencies, loneliness, and community bias, affect parents directly and indirectly. Lastly, health challenges, like physical ailments, stress, weight management, and neglecting self-care, affect both parents. These challenges intertwine, necessitating comprehensive understanding and targeted assistance. This chapter explores these complexities, assesses their impact, and examines potential solutions.