Effectively Engaging Fathers of Children With a Disability Who Strongly Adhere to Traditional Masculinity

Abstract

Fathers play an important role in the care of their children with disabilities that has a significant impact across a number of domains, including overall the family functioning, the wellbeing of their child, and the support and mental health of their co-parent. Specialists need to consider fathers as a key asset in the children's life and work towards increasing father engagement in the family and in services. Greater father engagement has been linked with positive child outcomes. Having a child with a disability intersects with the father's perception of masculine norms, values, and expectations, which can create an internal crisis, distancing the father from his child, family, and the service providers directly working with his child. Specialists should consider a gender-adapted takes into account and sees the father's masculinity, role, and unique perspective as an asset, rather than a detriment. This approach is built on a strengths-focused paradigm and evidenced-based practices that empower father's masculinity to better engage, support, and care for their children.