Unseen struggles, unheard voices: the auto ethnographic reflections on disability and parental trauma

Abstract
The art of parenting is an enormously vast and worthy of rewarding journey which involves nurturing,
guiding, and supporting a child‟s multifaceted development; that is physical, mental, emotional and
intellectual. Parenting a child with a disability is more than a deeply emotional and strenuous journey
marked by love, resilience, and significant challenges. This paper explores the intersection of disability,
auto ethnography, and parental trauma, examining how personal narratives can provide insight into the
psychological and social struggles faced by caregivers. Using auto ethnographic storytelling as a
research method, this paper highlights key aspects of parental trauma, including the emotional impact
of a child‟s diagnosis, systemic barriers in healthcare and education, societal stigma, and the physical
and mental exhaustion of care giving. While many parents experience grief and stress, the paper also
emphasizes the transitional power of advocacy, community support, and storytelling in rewiring trauma
into empowerment. By amplifying the voices of parents through auto ethnographic narratives, this work
underscores the need for greater societal understanding, policy reforms, and inclusive support systems
to ensure both caregivers and children with disabilities can thrive.