From Advocate to Activist? Mapping the Experiences of Mothers of Children on the Autism Spectrum

Autor/inn/en	Ryan, Sara; Cole, Katherine Runswick
Titel	From Advocate to Activist? Mapping the Experiences of Mothers of Children on the Autism Spectrum
Quelle	In: Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22 (2009) 1, S.43-53 (11 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1360-2322
DOI	10.1111/j.1468-3148.2008.00438.x
Schlagwörter	Social Support Groups; Mothers; Autism; Advocacy; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Parent Role; Activism; Family Environment + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Social support; Soziale Unterstützung; Mother; Mutter; Autismus; Sozialanwaltschaft; Parental role; Elternrolle; Aktivismus; Politischer Protest; Familienmilieu
Abstract	Background: For parents of disabled children, the role of advocate often develops to a level of frequency and complexity that other parents do not usually face. This paper considers whether this high level of advocacy translates into a form of activism on the part of mothers and if so, why this shift might occur. Materials and Methods: The broader study from which the data are taken aimed to explore the experiences of living with autism. Qualitative methods were used to understand how participants made sense of their lives and negotiated the social world. This analysis is based on interviews with 36 mothers of children on the autism spectrum. Results: Most mothers adopted an enhanced advocacy role acting either independently or collectively through involvement with support groups. In both cases, some mothers demonstrated an activist role and extended their efforts towards campaigning for change outside of their families. Conclusions: Mothers' experiences do not sit comfortably within existing articulations of activism but suggest that advocacy and activism may be experienced on a continuum. For many mothers, advocacy and activism are a major part of the experience of mothering a disabled child yet this remains a largely unrecognized role. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10