Listening to Korean Immigrant Mothers

Meanings of Raising a Child with a Disability

Primary caregivers’ beliefs often influence their experiences of providing care to children with disabilities. This exploratory study qualitatively probed the meanings that five Korean immigrant mothers attributed to the unanticipated responsibility of parenting children with autism spectrum disorders and communication disorders. From a symbolic interactionist theoretical perspective, the mothers’ narrative indicated that they accepted the responsibilities of care for their children with disabilities, worked to build stronger family ties, and transformed their understanding about life. From these findings, we discuss implications for practice to support Korean immigrant mothers who have children with disabilities.