Dominican Republic's context to enable parenting with intellectual disability : a brief report

Abstract

Introduction: People with intellectual disabilities have the right to form a family, but structural inequalities often prevent them from exercising this right. This report examines how the Dominican Republic can support parenting by persons with intellectual disabilities.

Methodology: A documentary review of institutional reports, public policies and previous studies was conducted, along with information requests to four government entities.

Results: The country has made progress in accessibility and inclusion policies, but obstacles persist in reproductive autonomy. Legal guardianship and the lack of self-advocacy limit decision-making, while poverty, violence and exclusion from sexual and reproductive health programmes add further barriers.

Discussion and Conclusions: Ensuring parenting rights requires legal reform to strengthen autonomy, accessible support systems and remove structural barriers. The country must also improve the quality of data on intellectual disabilities and move forward with research about this topic so it can inform public policies.