Parenting a Child with a Disability: Finding Balance, Boundaries, and Yourself

An Honest Conversation About Raising a Child with a Disability

Working hard is great when it’s motivated by passion and love and enthusiasm. But working hard when it’s motivated by deprivation is not pleasant.
– Viola Davis

Parenting is one of the most rewarding—and most demanding—roles we take on. These little humans we love so deeply require enormous amounts of time, energy, and emotional investment. And when you’re parenting a child who is neurodivergent or has physical, cognitive, or medical challenges, this responsibility can feel even heavier.

You’re advocating for your child’s needs at school, helping them navigate friendships, and making sure they feel confident and seen in a world that doesn’t always understand their strengths. It’s deeply meaningful work, but it can also be overwhelming and all-consuming.

We all know the airplane analogy: “Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others.” It’s meant to remind us that self-care is essential. When you’re a parent of a child with a disability or other high support needs, that’s often easier said than done.

Join Gateways and the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health’s Sarah Rigney for a heartfelt, honest conversation about the joys and challenges of parenting a child with a disability while also caring for yourself. Together, we’ll explore practical ways to restore balance, reconnect with your sense of self, and find strength in your parenting journey.

We’ll talk about:

• Recognizing and managing conflicting emotions
• Finding realistic ways to create time for connection and wellness
• Reclaiming and nurturing your own identity

Workshop Presenter: Sarah Rigney, LICSW

Sarah Rigney (she/her/hers) is a graduate of the Smith College School for Social Work (’09) and has been with the bryt team at the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health for 6 years.

Sarah grew up with a sister who was profoundly deaf and medically fragile. She is also a parent to three children, two with ADHD and one adopted child with a history of attachment trauma. From these experiences she understands firsthand how caregiving can blur the line between love and exhaustion. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s self-preservation.

She currently works as Associate Director of Clinical and Implementation Services for brytInsight, the professional learning arm of the bryt Intervention, a Tier 3 intensive mental health intervention for K-12 schools. Prior to this, Sarah worked at Behavioral Health Network’s Child Guidance Clinic (CGC) in Springfield, MA for ten years as an outpatient clinician, clinical supervisor, and clinic leader. A former high school English teacher, Sarah has extensive experience offering professional development and individualized consultations over the last 15 years. Sessions have covered a wide variety of topics including implementing specific mental health interventions (e.g. CPS, SFBT), creating comprehensive mental health systems, understanding and facilitating DEIB systems and policy development, and more.

About this Series: Empowering Caregivers

Raising a child with a disability can be incredibly rewarding—but it also comes with unique challenges. Many caregivers experience significant emotional, physical, and financial stress, along with higher rates of isolation, dealing with navigating complex systems.

But you don’t have to do this alone. This year, Gateways is offering a FREE parenting support series specifically for mothers and caregivers of children with disabilities. Join us to connect, build skills, and feel truly supported. Whether you’re looking for concrete guidance or simply a place to feel affirmed, we’re here for you. Read more about the Empowering Caregivers series here.

We’re able to offer this series free of charge thanks to the generosity of The Miriam Fund of Boston’s Combined Jewish Philanthropies. The Miriam Fund is a volunteer-led philanthropic community committed to creating an equitable world that expands opportunities for women and girls. While this series is primarily geared towards mothers, any caregiver of a child with a disability is welcome to attend.