With the Benefit of Hindsight

Abstract

Learning disability services worldwide increasingly recognize people with learning disabilities as family members and aim to provide effective support which facilitates family cohesion. However, some professionals still hold stereotypical views about families within a pathological model and as being `in need'. This article outlines one mother's reflections on her experience of raising a child with Down Syndrome, how his presence impacted on the family, and how she as a person changed as a result. The focus is on how the mother feels as a person, and how she has grown throughout all the sadness she has had to face. The article may help professionals to understand family life from a mother's perspective when a child has learning disabilities, and to recognize the importance of effective listening, ongoing coordinated support, and learning to work in partnership.