This Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability (ASID) webinar will address three key areas of concern relating to parents with an intellectual disability:
- How to get a clear picture of who they are what issues they face in the Australian context
- How to ensure they are not discriminated against in child protection practices
- How to make sure services are accessible and acceptable to these parents
The key message from more than 60 years research on the topic of parenting with intellectual disability is that these parents can learn parenting skills when support matches their needs.
However, they continue to face poorer outcomes, and evidence shows this relates to a complex interplay of social disadvantage, social stigma and discrimination. High rates of child removal – up to 3 in every 5 children - are an alarming marker of the consequences of this, and recognised to be higher for this group than any other.
Despite extensive research on what systemic changes are needed to avoid these outcomes, there has been limited targeted policy action in Australia. A notable exception was the National Healthy Start Initiative (2005- 2010), to trial and evaluate new ways of working with these families and build practice competency. Sadly, the momentum has been lost over the last decade of policy inaction.
Are we at a new point of change? The new 10-year national policy blueprint for child safety, the National Framework for Protecting Australian Children (2022-32) recognises children and parents with disability for the first time, and the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has held sessions focused on parents with intellectual disability. It is critical that we do not waste any more time in putting these families front and centre on the national agenda!
Host: Morrie O’ Connor, ASID Chair, Queensland Division
Presenters:
- Susan Collings, Phd, MPH, BA(Hons)
- Catherine Wade, Phd, MPsych, Grad Dip App Child Psych, BBsc
- Margaret Spencer, Phd, BSW, Bhy, Cert Nursing
- Voices of parents with intellectual disability with lived experience
Webinar fees:
Australasian Society for Intellectual Disability Members - no charge
Non-members - $25