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In Australia, 7.6% of all children aged 0-14 have some sort of disability, with intellectual and developmental disabilities being the most common. An intellectual impacts children’s ability to learn knowledge and skills, is generally measured by IQ and can be mild to profound. Developmental disabilities can be physical or mental including things like autism. Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are a particularly vulnerable group with greater caregiving needs. Unfortunately, they are also at an increased risk of experiencing maltreatment. Consequently, many children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are placed into foster/kinship care.
Children with disabilities are overrepresented in out-of-home care. Currently there are just over 46,200 children in out-of-home care in Australia. However, the disability status is only known for 63% (~29,100) of these children and of these about 30% (>8,730) are reported as having some sort of disability. This means there is a significant number foster and kinship carers providing care to children with disabilities in Australia.
Recently, my colleagues and I went to the research literature in order to get a better understanding of what we know about children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in out-of-home care. Our paper can be accessed here https://www.hindawi.com/journals/hsc/2023/2422367/
What we found was very sad;
Like all children, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities need safe, loving homes. Unfortunately, they are most at risk of not achieving this in their own families and after placement into foster/kinship care. There is a clear need to better support families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities in order to prevent maltreatment and placement into care. There is also an urgent need to better support carers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By supporting carers, children have more stable homes and better outcomes (not to mention, happier and healthier carers).
If you care providing care to children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, here are a few strategies to help you in your caregiving role:
Remember, some days are easier than others, but every day is worth it. Try to remember to focus on the children, not their disabilities. They need fun, love and safety just like any other child.
This article was written and authorised for use by our guest blogger Dr Stacy Blythe - Foster carer and Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University.
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