Families with parental intellectual disabilities in the support and foster care system. Research review

Abstract

Social transformation and the subsequent changes in social attitudes towards people and groups marginalised for various reasons have influenced, among other things, changes in the perception of parenting by people with intellectual disabilities. These changes are reflected in international legislation and in the research focus. For many decades, research focused mainly on issues related to minimising the likelihood of parenting by people with intellectual disabilities. Currently, researchers aim to gain a better understanding of the needs of parents with intellectual disabilities, the risks that may affect the quality of their parenting and the search for forms of support which allow parents with intellectual disabilities to carry out their parenting tasks. In this article, the author analyses research on the risk factors of parenting by people with intellectual disabilities and the attitudes of supporting institution workers in their relationships with parents with intellectual disabilities as well as the directions and forms of support for their parenting.