Parents with a Learning Disability and Their Views on Support Received: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Parents who happen to have learning disabilities are often faced with adverse environmental pressures, in addition to the difficulties in meeting the demands of child rearing and family life. Research evidence has indicated that, while support for such families is crucial, the quality of that support plays a significant factor in family breakdown. As part of an ongoing study of parental needs, support was examined from the parents' point of view: how it met their expectations, and whether there was a mismatch between what they received and their `ideal world'. In general, parents in this present study were happy with the support received, although they would have liked more. Findings from parental opinion enabled recommendations to be made about future service delivery to such families.