Disabled people have the same right to have and raise children as anyone else. This page centers disabled parents' experiences and expertise, provides practical guidance for navigating parenthood with a disability, and addresses the discrimination disabled parents face.
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UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Article 23):
Countries must eliminate discrimination against disabled people in matters of marriage, family, parenthood, and relationships, including ensuring disabled people retain fertility on an equal basis with others.
Most countries have laws against disability discrimination that should protect parenting rights, though enforcement varies.
Despite legal protections, disabled parents face:
- Discrimination in adoption and foster care
- Assumptions of incompetence from child welfare systems
- Pressure not to have children
- Removal of children based on disability rather than actual parenting ability
- Lack of accessible parenting supports
The numbers: An estimated 4.1 million parents in the US have disabilities. Studies consistently show disabled parents can be excellent parents when they have appropriate supports.
In child welfare systems:
Disabled parents are disproportionately investigated and have children removed, often based on assumptions rather than evidence of harm. Disability alone is not grounds for removal—actual harm or risk must be demonstrated.
If you face child welfare involvement:
- Know that disability alone cannot justify removal
- Request disability-specific supports rather than removal
- Document your parenting abilities
- Connect with disability rights attorneys
- Find advocates who understand disability parenting
In healthcare:
Providers may express bias about disabled people having children. You have the right to respectful, supportive care regardless of provider opinions.
In family courts:
Custody disputes sometimes involve disability discrimination. Courts should evaluate actual parenting ability, not assumptions about disability.
¶ Pregnancy and Childbirth
Before conception:
- Consider how pregnancy may interact with your disability
- Review medications with providers (some medications have pregnancy considerations)
- Discuss any genetic questions with genetic counselor if desired
- Find healthcare providers experienced with your disability
- Plan for physical changes during pregnancy
Fertility:
Some disabilities or treatments affect fertility. Fertility services should be available without discrimination based on disability.
Finding providers:
Look for:
- Experience with your specific disability
- Accessible office and exam equipment
- Willingness to modify standard procedures
- Respect for your expertise about your body
High-risk pregnancy specialists may have more disability experience, though not all disabled pregnancies are high-risk.
Physical changes:
Pregnancy affects everyone's body. For disabled people:
- Mobility may change
- Energy and pain levels may shift
- Some conditions improve during pregnancy, others worsen
- Medications may need adjustment
- Standard pregnancy advice may need modification
Accessible prenatal care:
You have the right to:
- Accessible exam tables and equipment
- Communication accommodations
- Information in accessible formats
- Modifications to standard procedures when needed
Birth planning:
Consider:
- How your disability affects labor and delivery options
- Communication needs during birth
- Accessibility of birthing facility
- Support people and their roles
- Post-delivery care needs
Cesarean section:
Some disabilities make cesarean more likely. This isn't failure—it's appropriate medical care. Some disabled people prefer scheduled cesareans for predictability.
Pain management:
Pain management options may be affected by disability. Discuss options with anesthesiologist in advance.
Postpartum period:
The postpartum period is challenging for all new parents. For disabled parents:
- Plan for recovery with disability considerations
- Arrange support for early days
- Anticipate how disability symptoms may change
- Don't hesitate to ask for help
Equipment exists to help parents with various disabilities:
Mobility-related:
- Cribs with drop sides or modified access
- Strollers that attach to wheelchairs
- Baby carriers designed for wheelchair users
- Changing tables at wheelchair height
- Car seats with easier installation
Visual impairments:
- Baby monitors with vibrating alerts
- Tactile organization systems
- Large-print or Braille baby supplies
- Apps that identify items and read labels
Hearing impairments:
- Visual baby monitors
- Vibrating alerts
- Video monitors to see if baby is crying
Limited hand function:
- Velcro closures instead of snaps
- Bottle holders and feeding supports
- Modified diapering equipment
Where to find:
- Through the Looking Glass (US)
- Disability-specific parenting organizations
- General adaptive equipment suppliers
- DIY modifications (disability communities share solutions)
Infants:
- Plan for sleep deprivation's impact on disability
- Establish routines that work for your body
- Create accessible care stations
- Build support network for high-need times
Toddlers:
- Childproof considering your disability
- Find ways to keep up with mobility
- Establish communication patterns early
- Plan for their increasing energy
School-age:
- Navigate school systems (potentially as disabled parent and as parent advocating for child)
- Find transportation solutions
- Adapt to their activities and schedules
- Model self-advocacy
Teenagers:
- Discuss disability openly
- Maintain appropriate boundaries around care roles
- Support their independence while maintaining parental relationship
- Address any caregiver dynamics that develop
Parenting requires enormous energy. For parents with chronic illness or fatigue:
Strategies:
- Prioritize essential tasks
- Rest when children rest
- Accept help
- Use convenience options when needed
- Teach children age-appropriate independence
- Plan activities for high-energy times
Pacing:
"Good enough" parenting is good enough. Perfection isn't achievable or necessary.
With your children:
From early ages:
- Explain disability in age-appropriate ways
- Answer questions honestly
- Model comfort with disability
- Teach them about accessibility and inclusion
- Don't make them responsible for your care (age-appropriate helping is fine; parentification is not)
With schools and other parents:
- Decide what information to share
- Advocate for your inclusion in activities
- Address assumptions directly
- Model disability pride for your children
Personal care attendants:
If you use attendants, consider how this works with parenting:
- Attendants may assist with child-related tasks
- Clear boundaries about parenting decisions
- Children should see parent as parent, not attendant
Home health and family services:
Some programs provide parenting support:
- Visiting nurses
- Early intervention programs
- Family support services
- Parenting classes (look for accessible options)
Respite care:
All parents need breaks. Respite services give parents time to rest, handle medical needs, or simply have adult time.
Family and friends:
Build a support network:
- Identify reliable helpers
- Be specific about needs
- Accept help when offered
- Maintain reciprocity where possible
Other disabled parents:
Connecting with other disabled parents provides:
- Shared understanding
- Practical tips
- Emotional support
- Advocacy partnerships
Organizations:
- Through the Looking Glass (US)
- National Center for Parents with Disabilities (US)
- Disability parenting groups online
If you're denied services based on disability:
- Document the denial
- Ask for written reasons
- Appeal through appropriate channels
- Contact disability rights organizations
- Know your legal protections
Legal protections:
- ADA prohibits discrimination
- Child welfare laws should not discriminate
- However, enforcement is inconsistent
Child welfare concerns:
Disabled parents face disproportionate scrutiny. The National Council on Disability has documented this discrimination.
Resources:
- Through the Looking Glass (Berkeley, CA) - research and services
- National Center for Parents with Disabilities
- State Independent Living Centers
Legal protections:
- Charter rights
- Provincial human rights codes
Child welfare:
Similar issues to US with child welfare investigations. Provincial variation in services and supports.
Resources:
- Provincial disability organizations
- Family support services (vary by province)
Legal protections:
- Equality Act 2010
- Care Act 2014
Support services:
- Local authority assessments may include parenting support
- Direct payments can cover parenting-related assistance
- Significant service cuts have reduced support
Resources:
- Disability Rights UK
- Parents with disabilities networks
Legal protections:
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- State laws
NDIS:
Some parenting-related supports may be available through NDIS, though this is contested territory.
Resources:
- People with Disability Australia
- State disability organizations
Protections and supports vary widely. Common barriers include:
- Assumptions about disabled parents
- Lack of accessible parenting support
- Child welfare discrimination
- Limited adaptive equipment availability
Disabled parents of color face compounded discrimination:
- Child welfare systems disproportionately target families of color AND disabled parents
- Intersection magnifies risk of family separation
- Less access to supportive services
- Racial bias in assumptions about parenting
LGBTQ+ disabled parents navigate:
- Adoption discrimination from multiple angles
- Assumptions about family structure
- Finding affirming services
- Building chosen family supports
Single parenting with a disability involves:
- Greater need for support networks
- Financial pressures
- Time and energy management
- Building reliable support systems
Some disabled parents have disabled children. This involves:
- Navigating two disability experiences
- Advocating for child while managing own needs
- Shared understanding and solidarity
- Additional support needs
Parents with intellectual disabilities face particular discrimination:
- Higher rates of child removal
- Assumptions about capacity
- Need for appropriate supports
- Advocacy for recognition of capability
Research shows parents with intellectual disabilities can parent effectively with appropriate supports.
United States:
International:
- Disabled parents organizations in many countries
- Disability-specific parenting groups
- "The Parenting Experience of Mothers with Physical Disabilities" by research at Through the Looking Glass
- Disability parenting blogs and social media
- Through the Looking Glass equipment guides
- Disability equipment suppliers
- DIY solutions shared by disabled parents
- National Disability Rights Network (US)
- Disability rights organizations in your country
- Family law attorneys with disability knowledge
What's your experience as a disabled parent? What tips and resources should be included? What's missing?
Share through our [contribution form] or email [email protected].
Last updated: November 2025
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