ABSTRACT
Background
Families, as a network of emotional connections, assume a particularly important role when there is a member with intellectual disabilities (ID). The main aim of the study is to explore the perceptions of parents of persons with ID about their family relationships.
Method
Ten parents of persons with ID, four of which were fathers, were interviewed using photo-elicited interviews and 60 photographs were analysed.
Results
Persons depicted in the photographs were mainly members of the nuclear family, and the moments captured were mostly family rituals. Joy was the most present feeling in the photographs and “saudade” the most evoked feeling when viewing them. Family relationships assume an essential role for parents, and acceptance and inclusion emerged as central concepts.
Conclusions
The core value of family relationships for parents, as a resource to deal with the challenges brought on by the condition, should be taken into account in interventions.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).