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It's Just That Much Harder

Multilayered Hardship Experiences of Low-Income Mothers With Disabilities

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, parish{at}unc.edu

Sandra Magaña

University of Wisconsin-Madison, magana{at}waisman.wisc.edu

Shawn A. Cassiman

University of Dayton, cassimsa{at}notes.udayton.edu

This article reports on a focus-group study that examined the experiences and perspectives of low-income mothers with disabilities who were receiving disability income transfers. The women faced severe deprivation and multilayered hardships. Their impairments were not their central problem, but they intersected with the challenges associated with the women's poverty and single-parent status. The women coped with or resisted their hardships by serving as advocates for their and their children's needs, accessing resources from safety-net services and their families, and relying on their religious beliefs. The women's aspirations included setting a moral example for their children, securing a better life for their children, and wanting to work. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Key Words: deprivation • disability • motherhood • poverty

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