Supporting Parents with Disabilities: A User-friendly Guide for Social Service Providers

This guide is a resource for social workers and other social service providers when working with parents with disabilities. It was created based on existing research, gray literature, discussions with experts and innovators, and input from a diverse expert panel of parents with disabilities, researchers, social workers, and advocates from Arizona and across the country. It covers the history of parents with disabilities, introduces eight core concepts and frameworks underlying best practices, and provides an overview of key state and federal policies that social service providers should know know when working with parents with disabilities. The guide also introduces the growing array of practice interventions and models designed for supporting parents with disabilities and provides best practice tips for social service practitioners. While the main intended audience is social workers and other social service providers, it can also be useful for policy advocates and policymakers seeking todevelop or fund new programs, and for parents with disabilities, their family members, and advocates about available service and support models as they advocate for appropriate support.