Mothering and Disability : A Practical Theological Case Study of Lived Experience

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This article presents an in-depth case study of one mother's experience raising a child with disabilities, examined through the lens of practical theology. Drawing on extensive interviews with Karyn, whose daughter Corbyn has multiple disabilities, this study explores how her experiences have shaped and reshaped her theological understandings and spiritual practices over time. The research reveals a complex journey where Karyn navigates multiple, often seemingly contradictory, theological stances. Her lived theology frequently diverges from normative disability theology, highlighting a significant gap in current literature and pastoral practices. The study demonstrates that Karyn's spiritual and emotional journey does not follow a linear progression but rather a spiral pattern, where early reactions and later acceptance coexist. This complexity challenges existing frameworks in both disability theology and psycho-social literature on parenting children with disabilities. The article argues for a more nuanced approach in practical theology that honors these lived experiences, calling for pastoral and community practices that can accommodate and support the diverse theological positions held by parents of children with disabilities.