Using grief for good: the transformative effect of participatory action research for parents with intellectual disability who have experienced child removal

Background: Parents with intellectual disability experience high rates of child removal, which affects their well-being. Method: Participatory action research (PAR) was undertaken with eight parents with intellectual disability who had children removed from their care. Parents were interviewed before and after the PAR. Three themes emerged: a safe space, revisiting the past and grief for good. Result: Parents reported that participating in the PAR was cathartic, allowing them to transform feelings of grief and injustice into actions that benefitted other parents. Conclusion: PAR can be transformative, enabling parents with intellectual disabilities to advocate for and contribute to improved practices.