Authenticity in Crisis: Navigating Maternal Identity Through Existential Caregiving

• In Event: Family and Community Supports for Individuals With Disabilities

Abstract

Through a case study, we examine how Cecilia, a Latina mother raising an autistic child, conceives and acts upon her insights to be caretaker, learner, advocate, and resistor. Cecelia’s experiences as an immigrant, mother, and Latina interacting with the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process reveal both existential and complex dimensions of special education advocacy. Her narrative connects personal historical experiences to broader themes of schooling, disability, and motherhood. Using existential theories, we analyze the challenges of motherhood and temporal conditions influencing Cecelia’s experiences. The study contributes to the rich history of maternal advocacy in special education, offering insights into the multifaceted roles mothers play. We discuss implications for research and practice.

Authors

• Joseph R Passi, Purdue University Northwest

• Michelle Parker-Katz, University of Illinois at Chicago