There is evidence to suggest that some parents with disability, particularly those with cognitive disability, are being prevented from parenting, or restricted in their parenting, because of misconceptions about the impact their disability may have on their capacity to care for a child. 

This report initially examines issues surrounding the right of a person with cognitive disability to parent a child. It goes on to explore issues relating to the support provided to parents with cognitive disability in Queensland. The report focuses on the formal removal of children through the child protection system with a specific focus on the operation of the Child Protection Act 1999 in Queensland. 

A number of issues were identified that can contribute to parents with cognitive disability not being provided the level of support they need to care for their children, leading to intervention by the government’s Child Safety arm. These issues are summarised under three key themes:

• the accessibility of mainstream services
• the interface between pregnancy, parenting and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• the child protection system.

The insights shared by stakeholders highlight the urgent need for government bodies to work together to develop and implement policy and practice reforms that provide targeted support to parents with cognitive disability.