Life stories that shaped advocacy in parents of children with disabilities

Parents of children with disabilities in public schools often do not advocate for their child and frequently lack the knowledge of how to advocate. There are, however, some parents who are successful advocates for their children. This study collected life stories of six parents who are engaged in their child's education and pursue advocacy with passion and determination, not just in the public schools, but in all aspects of their child's life.;The selection of narrative inquiry methodology for this study allowed the selected participants to share richly detailed life experiences that were constructed into stories that (1) produced insight into the complexities of their life and (2) shaped their identities as advocates. The narrative analysis of this study revealed five over-arching themes from the participants' life stories including suffering, family, faith, motherhood, and advocacy .;The findings in this study indicate that each participant's identity was shaped by life experiences that have influenced their advocacy for their child with a disability and that of others.