Skip links and keyboard navigation

Parenting when you have a disability

1 in 5 Australians has a disability of some form. For those who are parents, societal attitudes can often be a bigger stumbling block to their parenting than their disability, Disability Online has been told.

Karen Knight is hugged by her school-aged son and daughter.

Karen Knight is hugged by her school-aged son and daughter.

As Karen, a mother of 2 under 10 years, says: 'My experiences as a parent are not really any different from other (sighted) parents.

'Having a disability does not mean you cannot be an effective parent.'

In talking with parents, advocates of people with disability and service providers supporting people with disability, Disability Online peeled back some of the issues faced when parenting with a disability.

We provide information about practical services that may help parents.

Read some personal stories from parents.

It is acknowledged that every mum's and dad's experience of parenting is different. Individuals' experiences will vary depending on the type and severity of disability—as well as how others view their capacity to parent.

Parenting and mental illness

If you are a parent of a school-age child, and have a mental illness, you can share your concerns by participating in a survey by SANE Australia.

You may also find some of SANE Australia's fact sheets and podcasts helpful. Many of the fact sheets are also available in multiple languages.

Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0)
Last updated:
1 March 2013

Page feedback

Your privacy

Information collected through this form is used to improve this website.

Any information you submit that could identify you (e.g. name, email address) will be stored securely, and destroyed after we process your feedback.

  1. This page was

  2. We want this information to be the best it can be and we know we can’t do it without you. Let us know what you thought of this page and what other information you would like to see.

    We do not reply to feedback. Contact us if you need a response.

  4. Contact (optional)