With over 10 per cent of new parents being disabled persons, awareness, support and available information is vital, advises Gill Lea-Wilson from Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood International

When expecting a baby, all parents-to-be have questions and concerns about their pregnancy, where to give birth, or how they will cope as a new parent. Disabled parents may have extra concerns.


A significant and broad group
In the UK disabled parents form approximately 12 per cent (around 1.7 million) of the total population of parents. This is a very broad group of people which includes visually impaired parents, deaf parents, parents with learning difficulties, physically disabled parents and parents with mental health issues.

The ‘social model of disability’ is an approach supported by most disabled people’s organisations. It proposes that people are disabled not so much by their impairment but by negative attitudes, limited accessibility and lack of available support in society.

Disability, Pregnancy and Parenthood International (DPPI) is a national charity, controlled by disabled parents, which promotes better awareness and support for disabled people during pregnancy and as parents. In 2009, as part of a current initiative funded by the Department of Health, DPPI conducted a study on physically disabled parents’ experiences of maternity services. This study revealed that while physical access and accessible equipment are important, negative attitudes and a lack of awareness among professionals were equally disabling.

Support for disabled parents
The DPPI UK Information Service receives enquiries via telephone, textphone, email and post from disabled parents, and professionals who work with them, such as midwives, health visitors, occupational therapists and social workers. Based in north London, DPPI has a resource centre which disabled parents or parents-to-be can visit by appointment to discuss practical baby care strategies and try out equipment.

Antenatal issues
Disabled parents need accessible and specific information on pregnancy and birth. Helpful attitudes and creative ideas from healthcare staff can make a big difference. For example, one visually impaired mother having an ultrasound scan was given a running commentary by the radiologist, which was recorded for her to keep. Another reported that her midwife went out of her way to obtain information in accessible formats for her.

DPPI publications
DPPI produces a range of guides on disabled parenting as well as a quarterly journal which contains articles written by both parents and professionals, from the UK and abroad. Its latest guide, Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: a guide for physically disabled parents, will be published in October 2010.

All DPPI publications are available in accessible formats and are free to disabled parents.

Childbirth choices
Disabled women need access to information about birth options, as well as information about how their condition may affect the birth, and vice versa. A key decision for all pregnant women is where to give birth. Some disabled women may be told that because they are disabled, they have to give birth in hospital, for the safety of mother and/or baby. This may only be true in a minority of cases. Disabled women need to challenge this view if they do not want to give birth in hospital. Home could be the least disabling environment for giving birth for many disabled women, since it is already adapted to their needs.

Postnatal support
All parents have to learn how to look after their new son or daughter, but disabled parents may face additional challenges in dealing with practical aspects of baby care. An occupational therapist or rehabilitation worker can assist in devising practical strategies and identifying equipment to help with this. Some parents may also need to ask their local adult social care team to provide assistance for certain tasks.

Learning about other disabled parents’ experiences can be extremely helpful. Valuable information is available in specific guides produced by DPPI, and from contact with other parents. Disabled Parents Network (www.disabledparentsnetwork.org.uk) has an online forum, local groups and other services. Deaf Parenting UK (www.deafparent.org.uk) provides support for deaf parents.

For more information on DPPI, tel: 0800 018 4730, textphone: 0800 018 9949 or
visit: www.dppi.org.uk.