Social-model Mothers

Disability, Advocacy, and Activism

Abstract

How do mothers of disabled children navigate the roles of advocate and activist? This paper reflects on the experiences of mothers of disabled children, exploring the impact upon families who take on responsibilities for working for disabled children’s rights. It is from these experiences that, as mothers, we join other activists and academics in the growing radical disability rights movement. The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the labour of advocate mothers and to tell our stories of success. We also aim to provide recommendations to mothers, fathers, families, schools, academic communities and those invested in social justice, to work toward future positive action on behalf of disabled children.