Mothers of a child with intellectual disability face various challenges in parenting. However, most studies of support for parents of a child with intellectual disability have been conducted with families from Western cultural backgrounds. Little is known about support for families of children with disabilities in China. This study explored the perceptions of Chinese mothers of a child with intellectual disability about the support that they received. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with twelve mothers of a school-aged child with intellectual disability. The data were analysed thematically. It was found that Chinese mothers received support mainly from family members, social contacts, school teachers, and the government. Family conflicts, isolation from friends and community, unequal relationships with school teachers, and restricted access to information appear to be the main barriers for mothers to accessing and utilizing the available support. This research points to potential areas of difference between the experiences of mothers in China and those in Western countries.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	family support, mothers, intellectual disability, China
Research Division:	Education
Research Group:	Specialist studies in education
Research Field:	Special education and disability
Objective Division:	Law, Politics and Community Services
Objective Group:	Community services
Objective Field:	Families and family services
UTAS Author:	Cuskelly, M (Professor Monica Cuskelly)
ID Code:	128722
Year Published:	2018
Web of Science® Times Cited:	5
Deposited By:	Education
Deposited On:	2018-10-10
Last Modified:	2018-11-26
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