Grandparents of Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Navigating Roles and Relationships

Grandparents can play critical roles in the lives of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. However, current research and understanding around grandparent roles and experiences is limited. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the roles and experiences of grandparents supporting children with disabilities. In this article, the voices of grandparents with diverse experiences are presented. Key themes that emerged were the role of the grandparent, boundaries in roles and space, navigating family dynamics, and the general experiences of grandparenting. These findings have implications for the types of supports provided to grandparents and for practitioners working with families who have actively involved grandparents.