Parents with intellectual disabilities in Australia
Man, W., Wade., C. & Llewellyn, G. (2016). Prevalence of parents with intellectual disabilities in Australia. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability. https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2016.1218448
Abstract
Background
Parenting by people with intellectual disability is attracting increasing attention, and policymakers and service providers require empirical evidence to develop sound policy and service responses. The purpose of the study was to identify prevalence and demographic data on parents with ID in Australia compared with parents with other disabilities and the population of parents without disability.
Method
The Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, 2009, was identified as the most suitable survey, and design-weighted analysis was performed.
Results
An estimated 0.41% of Australian parents had intellectual disability, equating to 17,000 parents with ID. Parents with ID were more likely to have only 1 child and to reside outside a capital city compared with parents without disability.
Conclusions
These findings provide benchmark data for monitoring, over time, the prevalence of parents with ID and point to policy and service responses for parents with only 1 child and for those in outer urban, regional, and rural areas of Australia.