Parenthood and childrearing

If a child is arriving, there should be a substantial investment in the preparation of the young couple with an intellectual disability for their future parenthood. Raising a child is something you have to learn, and one person has a better feel for it than the other.

Over the course of time, we have seen a variety of good examples of parenting by people with an intellectual disability. These are the parents who are prepared to request support and who accept advice. They have a supportive social network and have received good methodical parenting support.
These factors were the results of the study Samenspel van factoren [Interplay of factors] (2005).

The childrearing can be shared with other people: professional care workers, someone from the client’s own social network, or a combination thereof.

Scientific study: Wat werkt voor ouders met verstandelijke beperkingen? [What works for parents with an intellectual disability?]

Parents with an intellectual disability should be supported with their parenting as best as possible. Good scientifically proven methods are vital to accomplish this.
To meet that need, in 2008 the study Wat werkt voor ouders met verstandelijke beperkingen? [What works for parents with an intellectual disability?] was started in collaboration with the VU [Free University] in Amsterdam. ASVZ participates in this study.
The study has three domains of focus based on the three success factors from the study Samenspel van factoren [Interplay of factors] (2005).

  • Requesting and accepting support: how can we ensure that parents request help more often and are able to accept the support offered?
  • Good methodical parenting support: the development and testing of an effective video-method to enhance the sensitivity of parents with an intellectual disability
  • Supportive network: how can we ensure that family and friends of the parents would want to provide support on a regular basis

The results of this study will be published some time in 2013.

For more information, see www.watwerktvoorouders.nl