The lived experience of immigrant parents of disabled adolescents and young adults transitioning into adulthood: A narrative inquiry

Background

Immigrant parents' perspectives on raising adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities during the transition to adulthood are the focus of this study. Disabled children demand more care and support as they mature and transition to adulthood. This increased care demand places significant stress on parents' wellbeing and participation in social and economic activities.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were undertaken with purposively sampled immigrant parents of adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities transitioning into adulthood. The study used inductive thematic analysis to identify common themes across the data set.

Findings

The birth of their disabled child marked a new beginning in a family's life, characterised first by shock and later by acceptance. Informants experienced challenges associated with language and information access, reduced service, social isolation, skewed gender roles and worrying about their children's future.

Conclusions

The intersection between migration and disability can aggravate the care burden. Knowledge about parents' experiences is crucial for designing rehabilitation programmes, promoting wellbeing and bridging gaps between services recommended by service providers and the actual needs of the family and child.