| Abstract [eng] |
In 2010, Lithuania ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter - the Convention) and undertook to implement the provisions of the Convention - its laws and practices, to implement principles of equality and non-discrimination, also respect for persons dignity and autonomy, as well as the freedom to choose, independence and inclusion in society. The Convention introduces a new approach to disability. The master 's thesis examines the experiences of mothers with intellectual disabilities from whom children were taken. The main goal of the work is to analyze the experiences of mothers with intellectual disabilities from whom children were taken using aid ratio theory. Disclosing the experiences of women with intellectual disabilities will help to better understand the needs of mothers and the difficulties they face in raising children. The work consists of an introduction, four chapters of the theoretical part, empirical research, conclusions, recommendations, references and appendices. The theoretical part of the work reviews the psychosocial characteristics of a disabled person with an intellectual disability. Peculiarities of motherhood in mothers with intellectual disabilities are analyzed. Public attitudes towards mothers with intellectual disabilities and the causes of parenting difficulties faced by mothers with intellectual disabilities are examined. The peculiarities of the development of children raised by mothers with intellectual disabilities and the factors influencing the risk of inadequate care are discussed. The social support and assistance operating in Lithuania and the public assistance to mothers with intellectual disabilities, theoretical and practical aspects of taking a child out of the family are reviewed. The theoretical analysis of the part is based on the research of foreign authors on the topic of motherhood of women with intellectual disabilities in Poland, Great Britain, the United States, Germany and other countries. The empirical part presents a qualitative study, the aim of which is to investigate the experiences of mothers with intellectual disabilities from whom children were taken: when raising a child , the circumstances of their adoption and living without a child. To achieve the purpose of the study was to expose the set goals: to reveal the peculiarities of motherhood when raising a child / children ; to analyze the mother’s experience of taking a child (ren); to study the attitudes of mothers with intellectual disabilities towards social work and to reveal their experiences in the life after the adoption of the child (ren). The study involved mothers with mild intellectual disabilities from whom children were taken. 7 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The study found that mothers with intellectual disabilities face many difficulties and challenges with motherhood, and their experiences after having a child are similar to those of mothers without disabilities. After taking children, most mothers did not receive appropriate and respectful support from professionals, so support professionals should pay more attention to building a relationship between the professional and the client based on empathy, respect, equitable and trustworthy help, human dignity and trust, which gives the process "therapeutic power". |
