Abstract:

We examine how 150 Latino mothers of young children with developmental disabilities use narratives to express and create self-understanding vis-à-vis their child. The purpose is twofold: (a) to introduce narrative as a tool that people use to make sense of disability, and (b) to demonstrate how these mothers draw on cultural beliefs and the narrative form to construct meanings of self in relationship to disability. An analysis of spontaneous narratives of self and disability reveal that the majority of mothers portrayed themselves as good mothers in line with larger cultural notions, and viewed their child as bringing about positive transformations in their lives. We end by suggesting ways that narrative analysis could be used in future reasearch and practice.

Author(s): Debra Skinner, Donald B. Bailey, Jr., Vivian Correa & Patricia Rodriguez

Journal: Exceptional Children

Date: 1999

Volume: 65

Issue: 4

Pages: 481-495

DOI: 10.1177/001440299906500404

Databased: Yes

Disabilities: Developmental Disability

Categories: Families