From Emotional Crisis to Empowerment: The Journey of Two Mothers

• Published in: Infants and young children Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 225 - 240
• Main Authors: Cain, Melissa, Fanshawe, Melissa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Blindness; Children; Coping; Early Intervention; Empowerment; Foreign Countries; Grief; Mothers; Parent Role; Resilience (Psychology); Specialists; Australia
• ISSN: 0896-3746
• DOI: 10.1097/IYC.0000000000000194

This article presents the experiences of 2 mothers whose children were born blind. It relates their journey moving from the grief experienced when presented with the unexpected challenges of supporting a child with special needs to a position of empowerment after gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to integrate into their new and reimagined lives. This research addresses the following question: "What is the role of Early Intervention Specialists (EISs) in supporting parents of children with unexpected congenital blindness?" Using case study methodology, the authors interviewed 2 mothers in Australia, when their children were aged 5 years and again 5 years later to gather a longitudinal understanding of their interactions with EISs. These narratives underscore the critical importance of the specialized knowledge EISs provide in empowering caregivers to take control of their child's therapy needs and advocate for their full participation within educational contexts and the community.