Reflections of Adult Children of Mothers with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

This multiple case study explores the phenomena of being raised by parents with intellectual disabilities from the adult child’s perspective. Autoethnographic data was collected from the author and 4 non-disabled adults who were raised by mothers who had intellectual disabilities. The significance of the parent’s disability, parent/child relationship and the social factors that either hindered or facilitated the family are discussed. This study found that the majority of the families were at risk of losing custody of their children and that extended family or support services protected the family unit and provided valuable support to the children. It was common for the participants to have additional responsibilities growing up. All of the adult children achieved typical adult outcomes. The adult children interviewed typically did not define their maternal relationships in terms of disability or limitations and all maintained a strong relationship with their mothers.