Mothers' Hearts Speaking: Education Enlightens, Empowers and Protects Girls with Disabilities

This small-scale phenomenological interview study explored how seven poor, illiterate mothers in five different slum areas in a bigger city in the Punjab province of Pakistan, viewed the significance of education for their daughters with disabilities. The mothers' views were influenced by cultural aspects and behaviour patterns in the families' context, as well as by individual interpretations of religious and social values. Their views were coloured by previous experiences with an educational system and by their assumptions about the girls' situation when the parents are no longer there. The categories enlightenment, empowerment and protection emerged from the data as perspectives that contributed to an understanding of the mothers' views. In a process of change from a traditional to a more modern society, mothers' feelings of security and trust towards "the world out there" will influence their views and efforts regarding education for their daughters with disability. Mothers may need support and help in their encounters with the educational system. Although mothers have a central role, there is a need to bear in mind the complete family and the context when planning and implementing educational programs for girls with disabilities.