Motherhood and disability: A necessary gender public policy proposal Alejandra Cabrera, Venezuela Abstract Long-term care defines a mother who provides and gives attention to her dependents indefinitely because they are disabled. When she is the household head, she has to earn enough money to satisfy all the economic costs related to the house and her children´s disability. She also needs to make time to provide them adequate stimulation and care, with the hope that their condition will improve in the future. In Venezuela, those women, who are already in disadvantage vis à vis the labor market, tend to work part-time, have no social security, or must interrupt their university studies. This situation reinforces yet again the relation between poverty and disability. In this paper I propose a public policy that can be implemented to overcome this problem. My analysis is based on official statistics on household mothers with impaired children in Venezuela (2001 census data), an exhaustive analysis of the Venezuelan laws and international agreements signed by the country. The ultimate goal is to raise awareness about the importance of providing mothers with impaired children with the attention and resources necessary to help them produce and take care of their children at the same time, preventing their families from becoming impoverished and socially excluded. My proposal incorporates governmental, private, and community organizations as part of the solution, and suggests two main action goals: to prevent the disability and to provide legal benefits for the mother and her disabled children. Key words: long term care, motherhood, public policy, disability

I Introduction. Three reasons for the exclusion

Women identified as household head and mother with disability children

are a really interesting human group to analyze in its particularity, according to

their capabilities as women, mothers and workers. This analysis shows that

they require the proposal, articulation, implementation and evaluation of public

policies to facilitate their conciliation between home and paid work. Especially

considering that in their situation they cannot leave any of those spaces, and

they are usually socially excluded. I considered there are three main reasons for

their exclusion.

In first place, there are situations and cultural ways in the daily dynamics of

Venezuela, that make it harder for women to obtain gainful employment, with

the same income and benefits than men.

In second place, when a woman identifies herself as a household head,

that means she is actually responsible for the home, thus she needs a higher

income, considering she must satisfy all the associated with the home (services,

housing costs, etc.) as well as the costs associated with family members and

persons living in the house (food, health, education).

Finally, when the household head is a mother and she has at least one

disabled child, she lives a complex reality defined by a situation that requires

increased and sustained revenue generation to cover the specific costs

associated with the disability, as well as the needs of the family group.

To summarize, I have to say, work and economic and social inequalities

between women and men, become even more important in these cases, since

they affect the whole family group the woman leads. We can say that women

disadvantages, transcend them and impact all the household including disabled

children. Beyond the income inequality, these women live a day to day and

highly demanding life, requiring actions and suitable responses for their needs

as women, mothers and household heads.

The challenge invites us as a social scientists to understand the complexity

of their daily dynamics, as well as their long term contract requirement to take

care of their dependents, in a highly demanding relationship in several aspects.

That is why this approach is considered appropriate for these women, using the

capabilities theory proposed by Martha Nussbaum. This paper contributes to

proposing a coherent response to these woman needs, considering the

specificity of their limitations and potential.

II Motherhood and disability: An statistical approach

Considering that "any policy proposal should begin with an assessment of

the social reality to be changed" (Astelarra, 2005, p15), the results obtained in a

previous study are taken as reference (Cabrera, 2010), using Venezuela

CENSUS 2001 data, it could be identified 26.113 women are already living this

reality every day, and that represents about 2% of women in the country.

We proposed the construction of indicators based on three dimensions as

follows:

Responsibilities

Strengths

Limitations

This analysis allowed to identify that the inter-association between the

three factors obtained shall be considered in an integrated manner. This means

that the daily life of the household heads with children with disabilities imposes

mothers to maximize their potential, to satisfy their responsibilities, overcoming

their own limitations and those that their environment imposes.

The results of the statistical analysis indicates that the factors analyzed

individually are closely interrelated, under which, when analyzing the reality and

everyday life of mothers, all should be considered at the same time, in this

sense the intervention and support of these women must be oriented to

maximize its potential, so that their needs are met, while minimizing their

limitations. For practical purposes this is illustrated in Figure 1, showing the

interrelationship of the three elements analyzed.

Figure 1 Interrelationship of the three elements analyzed (Cabrera, 2010)

After multiple correspondence analysis, the simultaneous behavior of the

three indicators Responsibilities, Limitations and Potentials, allowed to obtain

the following groupings

1 - Young mothers with few dependents who are self-employed

(green) mothers living within few comfortable homes and with few dependents,

they were identified as having a job in the private sector, and were mostly

informal workers without social security or related benefits , but they had more

flexible schedule.

2 - Mothers with disabilities and unstructured work (orange) mothers

also with disabilities, who cover the cost of her dependents mainly using grants

and other assistance, from state or private companies.

3 - Mothers with many adult dependents (purple) mothers responsible

for large family groups, in most of the cases beneficiaries of public or private

assistance, and usually more mature women (had their first disabled child after

age 36), they live in houses with better comfort, compared with homes of

mothers in the first class.

4 - Single mothers with their child with disabilities (blue) corresponds

to mothers who share their home just with their only disabled child, usually are

regularly employed, in public or private sectors.

Graphic 1 Multiple correspondence analysis (Cabrera, 2010)

Once the partial and global analysis of the indicators proposed and

constructed was completed, it was possible to validate the relationship between

disability and poverty, noting that in most cases these are modest homes with

limited access to services and few luxury assets whose income is quite limited.

Interestingly, mothers make use of everyday support given according to

Constanza Tobío (2005). In this matter, usually an external help is used, a kind

of outsourcing for the children care, most children are in school (90% receive

educational services of public services) also they use flexible work strategies to

do activities on their own which is identified as private sector, while receiving

very low wages close to the minimum wage, which allows inferring that in many

cases they are self-employed without benefits or social security. Finally it was

possible to see that the labor dynamics of female household heads with

disabled children, operate under the basic premises of the traditional relations

of kinship, that means, to do jobs usually done by women, while they have poor

academic and job training, all of which further limits their employment

opportunities and economic improvements.

III Beyond laws in force: Institutional scenario

Once the statistical analysis is finished, it is time to study the institutional

context and make the matching proposal, considering institutions provide the

framework in which human relations are inscribed in modern societies. Based

on the definition of Douglas North (1990), institutional area covers all laws,

agreements, policies and contracts from the law governing the actions of

individuals as well as public and private organizations in which these actions

are executed. This concept widespread in the New Institutional Economics

approach, is looking for a comprehensive and complex configuration of society

in terms of its rules approach. For the purposes of this paper, following the

proposed North theory, an analysis of the institutions related with women

household heads with disabled children is presented, addressing all legal,

national and international instruments, plans and programs, as well as public

and private organizations that directly or indirectly frame the rights and

possibilities of these women in contemporary Venezuelan reality.

Considering public policy is traditionally defined as "action program of a

public authority or the result of the activity of a public authority vested power

and government legitimacy" (Lahera, 2002, p9), this means that only States are

those who must respond to the needs of groups and individuals. A

comprehensive approach analyzes the institutions as a whole, considering that

"public policies are characterized by the diversity of actors and resources

involved in its implementation" (ibid, p21); in this sense, the multiplicity of social

actors involved in the implementation of actions in daily practice for a social

group should be considered, so that the analysis could be cross and adequate.

The articulation of all sectors of society namely public, private and

community sector is necessary and appropriate: "people are interested and

involved in resolving concerns at national level and at municipal or regional

level. Moreover, the private sector contribution is increased... (and further)…

Thus, the government without prejudice to its regulatory, monitoring and

evaluation functions, can better utilize the capacity to govern, which is a scarce

resource, and release resources to concentrate on their core tasks "(Lahera,

2002, p21), that means, to maximize the use of available resources

Following Lahera’s argument : "the economy is the art of optimal and

politics is the art of the possible" (Lahera 2002, p29) it can be said that

sociology is the art of understanding the human being can become optimal and

gender analysis shows how the desired equality and rights are mostly a dream.

Thus, the analysis of public policies from a gender perspective aims to observe

in detail the gaps in the agreements, laws, programs and agencies that maintain

inequities between men and women, as well as treating women as a collective

uniform, aiming to make visible the needs and requirements of specific groups,

emphasizing on female heads of households with children with disabilities.

In this sense, the analysis of the existing situation is presented, in order to

show in detail the existing institutional framework and identify areas of need and

of opportunity for current mothers, doing a full review that "allows sorting around

then presenting his goal or purpose, law, ministry goals, management practices

and budget items "(Lahera, 2002, p34), and thus show a scenario of available

options, opportunities and conditions, such as to serve as context and

background for the proposal that is referred to in this research. Assuming that

"the first objective in this line is to review the existing legal frameworks and

legislation because although since the granting of voting rights discrimination is

no longer a state policy, many inequalities persist in the laws themselves"

(Astelarra, 2005, p75). Ergo, despite the achievements and legal conquests,

although the framework agreements and general laws provide equal rights for

all, and there is a collective agreement to remove all forms of discrimination, it is

also true that, downstream, after examining in detail the instruments and

agencies that make areas of opportunity visible, mechanisms of women

domination and discrimination can be found, or on the contrary the overlooking

their needs and characteristics.

This approach is considered appropriate, since usually "public organization

is often judged with reference to a hypothetical ideal, but it makes more sense

to do it in compared institutional terms " (Lahera, 2002, p.28), this allows to

dimension from a global perspective, the current conditions of the four groups of

mothers who are heads of household with children with disabilities, and make

realistic and desirable proposals, having clear goals and guidelines generated

from international law.

Analysis of laws and institutions projects aimed at women in their different

conditions, have led to propose four categories of analysis, according to their

objectives and the benefits that women will obtain:

Human Rights: are law agreements, programs or institutions that

address women's rights as human beings, trying to approach them

as being integral from a rights perspective, while ensuring them to

be treated comprehensively and equally in society.

Labor rights: are legislation agreements, programs or institutions

that aim to promote and ensure adequate labor integration of

women into the paid market, promoting equality of conditions and

the reduction of gender gaps.

Economic rights: are laws agreements, programs or institutions

that provide transfer in cash or kind to women in order to assist in

inequities to which they are exposed, mainly for reasons associated

to their gender.

Sexual and reproductive rights: are law agreements or programs

designed to strengthen sexual and reproductive health of women,

which in the context of this research is closely related to the

prevention of births with disabilities.

Regarding the institutional network available in Venezuela, for any mother

who has a child with disabilities, four categories can be distinguished,

depending on the moment of the life cycle in which the sons or daughters are:

Prevention: controls to prevent complications that can lead to

disabilities are indicated and start when the mother is pregnant and

high obstetric risk is detected. In these sessions the mother is

examined more regularly and depending of the risk, home rest

during the remainder of pregnancy is prescribed.

Diagnosis and Early Attention: when the baby is born, and his

condition is early diagnosed, health and neonatal centers refer them

to child care or Child Development Centers belonging to the

Ministry of Education and Sports. These centers have multi-

disciplinary teams with psychologists, occupational therapists,

physiotherapists, pediatricians, physiatrists and social workers.

These professionals provide care to the child and the mother,

through successive queries in the center and the right treatment is

applied. In treating a child with disabilities, family integration arises

in the process of early treatment of disabilities: in most cases the

mother work with the professional team, in order to learn the

technique and then apply at home several repetitions of the

exercises provided to them.

Inclusive Education: After 6 years, if the child has a diagnosis of

disability, he or she is referred to a Special Education Institute,

where students are placed by level of intellectual functioning in

small groups and depending of the learning possibilities, develop

skills for independence and social interaction and basic contents of

the regular educational, adapted to the abilities and learning skills of

each case. These centers count with a specialized teacher in the

classroom and also have an interdisciplinary team similar to the

Child Development Center which makes periodic assessments, in

order to locate and redirect teaching programs as advances in

thought skills are developed.

Labor Inclusion: After completing the basic studies, when the

disabled person reaches 18 years old, he or she is referred to a

Labor Education Workshop, where they learn a trade and personal

independence habits and behaviors are reinforced. In cases when it

is possible, the person may be incorporated into a supervised job.

In order to systematize the available information, a heat map is used. It

seeks to associate the target population with the laws, agreements and

organizations that protect and serve them best, depending on the level of

involvement of the objectives that arise with the specific needs of the women

heads of household with children with disabilities.

This heat map uses warm colors such as red and orange, to identify the

laws, agreements, programs and organizations associated with the target

population, and cooler colors such as yellow and green to identify those

instruments and agencies that give some coverage to the population but

indirectly. It was decided to give greater weight in the analysis to those

instruments and organizations addressing disability in children above those that

address labor rights of women, considering that the first understand or at least

have more knowledge of the characteristics of mothers in these circumstances,

while in the second, working women are addressed and protected without

attention to specific gaps or needs of their conditions, as heads of households

and mothers to disabled children.

Figure 2 Meat map categories

This heat map is used to categorize existing institutions in the country,

using additionally two categories axes for analysis, as the direct beneficiary is

the mother or any of his sons or daughters.

EQUAL INTERVENTION WITHOUT PREVENTION

After the systematization of existing institutions, it can be seen that

mothers that are heads of household with children with disabilities are little

visible in existing policies from international agreements, laws, plans and

programs and organizations, both public and private. The only actions directly

aimed at them refer to recognition of their inequity situation by giving them

permanent job tenure (LOTTT 2012) and greater transfer of money compared to

mothers with children (Mission “Sons of Venezuela”), which while

acknowledging the state of social and economic disadvantage of women in

these conditions do not provide solutions to their everyday conflicts.

Moreover the clear differences seen in terms of prevention, although the

area in which there is more legislation, programs and projects, it is also the area

with the greatest lack of organizations that implement control and help decrease

births with disabilities thus it is not seen as a plausible goal in the short term, all

of which increases the chances of this population growing in the future.

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Figure 3 Institutional Meat map

The heat map chart shows very clearly the significant progress on labor

rights of women, which seek to ensure better working conditions and reduce

gender gaps. However, the double shift in jobs conflict is not approached from

any perspective, and mothers are still responsible for seeking care for their

dependents. Considering that they require specific care for a long time,

although there is a strong educational and assistance network to support them,

such care not being articulated with any current plans and programs, draws a

scenario in which assistance to educational and healthcare institutions conflicts

with working hours, all of which may have negative consequences on their

evaluation as workers as well as on the benefits they could obtain.

A second level of analysis, using Judith Astelarra´s proposed scheme for

the analysis of public policies from a gender perspective, reveals that most of

the policies implemented in Venezuela are focused on equal opportunities, that

is., "the State must ensure that everyone has the same opportunities

"(Astelarra, 2005, p74), in this regard it is noted that it is sought to give women

the same opportunities as men, trying to eliminate all forms of discrimination

based on gender. This is also seen in most laws, agreements and objectives of

organizations that deal with handicapped people. Such policies are aimed at

empowering women by making changes in a situation that by definition is unfair

to women. In practice this type of proposal has shown to not be very efficient

considering that "pure modification of the law produces no changes in the social

reality of women" (ibid, p 76) under which, although more women work every

day on the street, they still have major responsibilities at home.

As for Positive Action, namely "intervention that seeks to correct the

disadvantage of women in the public world" (ibid, p78) shows that the Labour

Law LOT while seeking permanent tenure for the mothers with children with

disabilities, gives a benefit to these women that occupationally are different from

other women and mothers, however it is not clear about the implementation of

this benefit in day to day practice of the measure it proposes. Meanwhile the

Mission Sons of Venezuela and Mission “Mothers of the Neighborhood”

(Mother’s of the Slum”), as well as the Bank of Women Development

Organizations (BANMUJER) and Banco del Pueblo Soberano, generate direct

money transfers to women to alleviate the differences to which they are

exposed. The Sons of Venezuela Mission is the only one that recognizes

mothers with disabled children as women in the most unequal and and

disadvantaged situation, under which the expenditure of money is greater due

to their child´s disabilities. Importantly, the law for persons with disabilities,

proposes affirmative actions for the children with disabilities in the labor force as

well as the incorporation of these people to labor force, which indirectly benefits

their mothers, in cases in which their can generate additional income for their

homes.

Finally as mainstreaming policy at the national level there is only the

Project and Implementation of Gender Sensitive Budgeting, aimed at generating

programs in all government entities with gender perspective. Such policies

aimed at "the improvement, development and evaluation of policy processes, so

that a gender equality perspective is incorporated in all the policies, at all levels

and at all stages" (ibid., p 85) is a sort of political goal of equality. While in

international agreements, do not specifically make visible the mothers subjects

of the investigation, their proposals are invitations to States to mainstream

gender and rights throughout the legal and organizational current content, all of

which is consistent with the guidelines of the United Nations (UN) and

Organization of American States (OAS) as international cooperation bodies.

So it can be said that the analysis of institutions reveals marked

deficiencies for the population under investigation, as well as inefficiency in their

approach, both from a general perspective, by focusing on the educational

health care and from equal opportunities, assuming a nonexistent equality of

needs, and from the specific to address mothers from the money transfer,

ignoring their needs are marked by the high demands of their double shift jobs

and the impossibility of neglecting the women productivity and the reproductive

capacity.

Public policy proposals for mothers heads of household with

children with disabilities

Once systematized the available institutions directly for mothers and which

indirectly enjoy receiving service and attention to their children, it is possible to

make a public policy proposal, which is considered suitable for the features and

answers the mothers’ needs, for which is taken as the first criterion the four

groups of women mentioned previously obtained in previous research (Cabrera,

2010), namely:

1 - Young mothers with few dependents who work on their own to be

basically teenage mothers who need support to continue their studies and opt

for paid jobs with more social stability and security that will allow them to

overcome poverty.

2 - Mothers with disabilities and unstructured work, who require care

in their own disabilities, and training in a craft and enjoy a paid job while

continuing to enjoy the financial support they already have.

3 - Adult mothers with many dependents, many households have family

support may require enabling them to identify needs and opportunities at home,

taking advantage of have a stronger economic base.

4 - Alone with her disabled son Mothers who are only responsible for

one disabled child and enjoy regular and paid work, should enhance their

stability, such that risks are minimized and benefits are maximized. These

mothers may in the future become adult women with many dependents.

Second and considering that disability in the children is a notorious fact,

that determines the higher costs and requirements of the mother and that

change depending on how old they are, it was decided to incorporate a

proposed public policies that even if addresses the developmental stages of

children, considering that mark different moments in the life and needs of the

mother, namely prevention early intervention, inclusive education and

employment inclusion; it builds on that there is a large network of organizations

currently active and operational.

A scheme of two sets of macro public policy then occurs:

• The first refers to the rights of women, emphasizing the economic and

labor in their capacity as heads of households considering their responsibilities

in the work environment

• The following refers to the rights of children, which seek to address their

responsibilities in the reproductive sphere associated with the care of these and

these.

Whereas mothers under investigation are heads of household, under

which, as previously stated, have waived financial responsibilities associated

with their household needs, within which is at least one child with disabilities.

Initially, women's rights are enshrined in the four international conferences

on the subject, and the various agreements and conventions that have been

signed, all aimed at eliminating all forms of discrimination based on gender. In

Venezuela there are laws that seek to protect the workforce in the pre and post

maternity months, as well as all forms of violence, even when recently are

protected indefinitely in their employment contract, is left aside, as mentioned

earlier the conflicts associated with the job, leaving a space of opportunity for

regulation and enforcement of full and programs to promote the harmonization

of roles, mainly formalized strategies usually take women, labor flexibility and

support of third specifically making visible the role of grandmothers, who in

practice are often an unrecognized support.

At the level of organizations is important to count with the ministry for

women affairs and advocacy platform, and INPSASEL, which places special

emphasis on appropriate working conditions and risk minimization.

It is pertinent to mention that by definition three of the four groups of

mothers (teenage mothers, poor mothers and mothers with disabilities) are

potential beneficiaries of missions that grant cash transfers, by virtue of their

personal and family conditions, which is why, both mothers and their

communities should advocate that these benefits are actually granted in order

to assist in their income, previous diagnosis of disability firm of their sons or

daughters.

Based on the above, policies to strengthen the economic conditions of the

heads of household mothers, through their academic and career options, are

proposed. However, in order to minimize the daily conflict in which they live,

should make proposals to harmonize roles. As in other countries, it can be seen

that the existing institutions in the country makes contributions to the labor

integration of women but not to the resolution of their job. Under the above a

public policy of positive action is proposed, that compliance with the

mentioned existing laws, allow directly favoring household heads with children

with disabilities mothers, according to their particular condition. In this regard

following the guideline of programs that transfer cash, the implementation of

forms of labor flexibility, which allow women to fulfill their responsibilities related

to the care of their children without affecting their evaluation and job

performance is proposed.

Likewise, is proposed the dissemination and mass of the proposals, such

that the population of mothers and of women in particular and men in general is

empowered to the rights and benefits to be implemented.

As practical effects for the mother, what is tried is to perform an

accompaniment to the mother at different times in the life of their child, which

differentiate different requirements around disability. The policies associated

with prenatal prevention refers to practices that seek care and attention

before birth, through the care of women of childbearing age, pregnant women,

proper care at birth, and also the prevention of accidents and illnesses that may

lead to disability. Additionally policies related to inclusion, both educational

and labor, refer to guidelines that seek to provide children and adolescents with

disabilities the best academic and professional training, such as to encourage,

in correspondence with the capabilities of each one, employment opportunities,

to provide economic and personal independence.

In general it is seen that these proposals are currently covered by all

international agreements related to disabilities, putting prevention and

integration as priorities. Nationally, the Law of Prevention, Conditions and

Working Environment (Lopcymat) and Persons with Disabilities Law, generally

legislate on the subject, finding specific programs or organizations. Importantly,

in the first stage of the development of children is closely linked to the sexual

and reproductive health of women, and although current programs in plans no

clear reference to disability prevention, prenatal prevention is based on

appropriate sexual and reproductive health of the mother, with special care in

care during labor and postpartum, targets that are posed and are consistent

with the objectives of both Mother Project, as the standard of SSR.

At the program level the Jose Gregorio Hernandez Mission specifies

among its priorities the diagnosis and early treatment of all types of disability,

PASDIS puts its focus on physical disabilities, with particular emphasis on

acquired disability, meanwhile Mision Milagro focuses its objectives in visual

impairment, and Mission Barrio Adentro in health care for cases that merit

medically attention. It can be seen then as there is a response from the medical

and welfare perspective.

At organizations level mothers counts with the hospital network in which

women comply during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. As for the medical

care of diseases and accidents mothers have the hospital network through

emergency services and consultation pediatrics and other specialties, in which

up care is also provided. Additionally, as part of the mode of Special Education,

at the public level Child Development Centers (CDI) in which mothers can go in

shifts to make assessments and where appropriate pacing therapies are

available to their children , and private level there is growing an offer of early

learning centers with very similar performance to the CDI. When they already

have a firm diagnosis they have available the network to schools and special

schools and vocational training, and while care is a more comprehensive

perspective, the centers serve during working hours, entering some cases in

conflict.

Based on the above, policies for the diagnosis and treatment of disabilities

are proposed, focusing on women who already have one child with disabilities,

aimed at reducing risks to health of children, mainly related to motherhood and

parenting, such that they can procure their sons or daughters as more timely

specialty care possible, so that the prognosis of these is the best feasible, which

lowers the economic requirements and care. It would be desirable to expect that

the implementation of these policies in the short and medium term make visible

a decrease in the numbers of disability and associated costs, considering that

many people sensitively improved their prognosis if they have timely diagnosis

and care, reiterating that there is a platform institutional functioning.

Under the previous is proposed a mainstreaming public policy that

compliance with the related existent laws, make the diagnosis and treatment of

disabilities a guideline daily action of both health services and education and

employment, which benefits all mothers, which is part of the right to health, to

education, to work, to decent and synthesis righteous life. Additionally, the

proposal calls for harmonization of society, both at the family level, as personal

and community level, considering the possibility and need for support networks

to provide care for the sons and daughters who need it, as well as the

harmonization of healthcare and educational institutions, such that labor and

educational choices of mothers are affected to the minimum extent possible, so

their budget increase.

Is included in the proposal the request for food fortification with folic acid,

considering it is a very simple implementation measure that benefits all women

of childbearing age alike and has been successfully adopted in other countries

in the region. It also incorporates the need for dissemination and mass of the

proposed, considering the need to make public the existence of both the rights

and the political will to make these rights met and the institutions, both the

existent one and the one that will be created in the benefit of mothers and their

children in particular and society in general.

Building the harmonization and integration. Beyond Utopia, steps

towards possible

Inequities in our society have made the heads of households with children

with disabilities mothers invisible, assuming that the work associated with the

care of their children is not working, even though it is a function of time, it is as if

"this take free labor "for love" (as is) still imposes enormous burdens on women

across the economic spectrum, and reduces their productivity and their

contribution to civic and political life "(Nussbaum, 2006, p114). These women,

whose daily conflict is maximized in their capacity as heads of household, need

to be recognized as such in public policy proposals in this sense this research

aims to provide solutions to their daily life.

Think of a society in which these mothers enjoy equal benefits and are not

subject to inequities, while able to work and enjoy benefits that allow them to

harmonize the care of their children with their job responsibilities, it is almost a

dream, you can almost certainly say that it is a utopia, but “utopias that twin

imagination and ideas, that aim at empowering all individuals to freely develop

their "good life" are needed; departing recognizing diversity as an asset and not

an obstacle; to fall head some enlightened and truly embody national targets “

(Lahera, 2002, p42). It should propose desirable to try to reach as possible, and

whatever is right, and that mothers who are heads of households and have at

least one disabled child do not spend the day doing stunts over time is definitely

right.

The isolated policy proposal from the state has not proven to be quite

successful, "technocratic reason is flat and conservative, but utopian thinking

without programs has proved impotent, and sometimes harmful" (Lahera, 2002,

p42) is why should systematize experiences, awareness theories and especially

ascertain the needs and possibilities, to make proposals that are viable in the

contemporary social context, and that respond to the needs of the target

population, taking full advantage possible of institutions available.

Taking on the challenge of responses have been analyzed together the

social reality of these mothers, "for this to be possible, it is necessary to have a

Pre-performance diagnostic discriminatory not only describe reality but as a

basis for public policies to be implemented "(Astelarra, 2005, p25), and from the

results of previous research (Cabrera, 2010) in which it was possible to

distinguish four different groups of mothers with potential and differentiated

needs and analyzing cross all institutions available, directly or indirectly, is able

to discriminate the stage in which they live their daily conflicts these mothers.

Based on this, it has been possible to present a proposal for public policies

considered equally successful and ambitious, under which must be analyzed in

depth by the agencies involved, to discuss the feasibility and scope and its

effective possibility of implementation, giving priority to the discussion between

groups of female heads of household with children with disabilities, promoting

through special schools where their children receive care spaces for analysis ,

discussion and enrichment. Aware that "the wealth of a society is measured by

the complexity of the public agenda, as well as its ability to process it. Hence

democracy must educate their citizens in their ability to express themselves

publicly "(Lahera, 2002, p 37), which is why the next step concerns the call of

the beneficiaries, seeking to empower, visible and inform them of their rights

structure and enjoyed opportunities to strengthen and propose new options.

This approach is considered appropriate for the population under

investigation, considering the vast network of existing staff on disability, I would

in a very short term reunite mothers and thus "incorporating social demands in

the design of social development projects integrated to enhance the link

between the protest organizations of the least integrated into the benefits of

modernization "(Lahera, 2002, p109) groups, in this sense, it is possible to raise

the public discussion of policy proposals, by direct beneficiaries, such that its

considerations, needs, judgments and criteria are incorporated. Do so through

existing organizations will maximize the benefits and minimize costs.

Moreover, a proposed public policy is incomplete without providing for its

evaluation, "this part of the public policy analytic cycle corresponds to judgment

on these results, organizations or programs, with emphasis on reliability and

usefulness of its conclusions ... a culture of evaluation that fosters innovation

and adaptation to a changing "means (Lahera, 2002, P272), if the proposals are

not evaluated for their impact on the population, lost its purpose, since it is not

possible to visualize if implementation is effective and it would stop making or

decision of the applicators and not for the benefits provided. Similarly it would

not be possible reorientations of the proposals despite seeming very consistent

in the documents, be ineffective in practice. As have been raising public policy

is a dynamic process that does not end with the proposal, on the other hand

you can say that there is marked a new beginning.

It is pertinent to note that "it is often difficult to identify program outcomes,

as well as political, it is possible that there are other causes that generate all or

part these results" (Lahera, 2002, p280) given the complexity of social

phenomena, more comprehensive than has been the previous analysis, it is

possible that you will be an aspect not considered, or to implement a new policy

element that positively or negatively affect the conditions of the population

arises.

That is why it is considered appropriate interactive evaluation which is

referred to as "the process of participatory research that examines the

organization, operation and development of a program in relation to their goals,

expectations of participants and results. She is based on the direct or indirect

interaction of the users of the program, between them and the technicians and

operators with management "(Lahera, 2002, P298), this approach will identify

the strengths and weaknesses of a proposed dynamically and maintaining the

relationship with the beneficiary.

Although there have been previous analyzes with much rigor "As every

political proposal, the decision on what are the necessary steps also reflects

ideological and programmatic elements that underlie their actions. In this sense,

the range of public policies to eliminate discrimination against women is not

unique (...) any policy proposal should begin with an assessment of the social

reality to be changed "(Astelarra, 2005, p15) and despite to have an extensive

and rigorous preliminary diagnosis, it is assumed that the proposal is not the

best, nor the most successful, is as previously suggested, a beginning, a

starting point to promote a fairer society that recognizes caregivers in this long

time their rights as workers, mothers and especially as women.

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