Fragile Families, Complex Parenting: Mothers of Children with Disabilities who Support Mothers

Abstract

Families are experiencing a phase of profound absence, and ‘fragile’ households are on the rise, due to rapid social changes and critical issues related to the economic system. Within this complex panorama, there are also those families who are confronted with situations of disability of one or more members of the family nucleus. It is usually the mother figure who bears the most burden of the special needs of the children. In this context, associations are born that represent a point of social aggregation and implementation of the offer of the territory. For example, the “Il Sole” association of Pistoia founded by mothers of children with Down syndrome. They are mothers who support other mothers in bureaucratic fulfillments, to learn about children’s rights, for entry into educational services and for school inclusion.