This project responds to the needs of the Sindicato de Madres en la Diversidad Funcional (Union of Mothers in Functional Diversity), an association of 200 women raising children with intellectual disabilities. Working largely on their own and in precarious situations, these mothers provide sustained care with little institutional support, a burden that directly affects their physical, mental and economic well-being. Despite the essential role mothers play in this context, their experiences remain largely invisible in research on care, which seldom integrates the perspectives of gender, social class and disability.

This project aims to address this gap by collecting quantitative and qualitative data to better understand these mothers’ realities and inform policies tailored to their needs. The research is conducted collaboratively, with mothers actively participating in its design and implementation, and follows an interdisciplinary approach that integrates nursing, psychology, economics, and anthropology. Ultimately, the work seeks to recognise care as a fundamental value and social responsibility, contributing to the transformation of a current model that is inadequate and lacking in the necessary protections.