Mothering Children with Disabilities

Children's disabilities—such as learning problems, developmental delays, or chronic medical troubles—have profound effects on the practice of mothering and on mothers themselves. One of the greatest challenges that mothers of children with disabilities face is the task of providing ongoing therapeutic care.

Children with disabilities usually require more attention than other children, and depending on the severity of their limitations, they may need care for the rest of their lives. Not only do mothers perform routine care, such as bathing, feeding, and toileting, they are also responsible for the administration of medical and/or behavioral treatments. The latter can be complex, and mothers often develop technical expertise with respect to children's needs. Women whose children have disabilities regularly alternate between the roles of mother, nurse, therapist, and ...