Ms Emma Burns:

I will add something about the facilitators who have helped people with parenting and their journey through their reproductive lives. Some of what is missing there is the practical skills and information among the people who are supporting disabled people through their journeys. A number of respondents spoke to us about the things that completely changed their lives. It could be as simple as a public health nurse who comes in and is innovative and open-minded and will try to find ways to facilitate that person's needs in early parenthood. It is a lack of knowledge that goes through the healthcare system. Regarding the surprise when a disabled person presents in pregnancy or looking for reproductive assistance in some way, how do we get over that and ensure that disabled people are seen as reproductive citizens the same as everyone else and are extended the same supports or at least to get to the same place? How do we get to this place - by not just creating strategies but embedding skills and knowledge? It is not all down to resources. Much of it is but some of it is also around building in knowledge and strategies in the existing resources.