The publication “Psychological support for parents and guardians raising children with disabilities in Kazakhstan ” was prepared by Aigerim Kenzhebekova and Aliya Tlegenova with the support of the IWPR Representative Office in Central Asia and the regional analytical platform CABAR.asia.
For citation and references to the material, please indicate: Aigerim Kenzhebekova, Aliya Tlegenova, Psychological support for parents and guardians raising children with disabilities in Kazakhstan (policy brief) 2026, CABAR.asia.
The publication notes that parents and guardians raising children with disabilities, special needs, or at-risk groups experience chronic stress and emotional burnout. Psychological support for parents and guardians is not prioritized or included in individual rehabilitation programs, psychological and pedagogical correction rooms, psychological, medical, and pedagogical child health services, or other government services. Systematic support for parents as partners in the rehabilitation and care process is lacking.
The main problem currently is that the state does not consider the psychological well-being of parents as part of overall support for families with children with disabilities. In Kazakhstan, there are 103,000 families raising children with disabilities, and this does not include families with children with special needs. According to research by international organizations, families with children with special needs experience so-called “disability poverty” (OECD, WHO). Coupled with economic vulnerability, parents and caregivers face disproportionately high levels of parenting stress. Causes range from medical and behavioral factors to social isolation, lack of understanding, and a lack of systemic emotional support.
According to a national study conducted by the Mama Pro Foundation (2025), 40% of parents and guardians report constant physical and emotional overload; 73% experience constant worry and anxiety about their child’s future; another 40% regularly experience social isolation, and almost 20% feel permanently lonely.
Less than half of respondents receive regular support from their partners. State support, firstly, remains inaccessible (only 15% of respondents are aware of all sources of support), and secondly, lacks a comprehensive approach. International studies show that the higher the degree of unpaid and undistributed care, the higher the risk of poverty, depression, and social isolation in families with children with disabilities. Thus, parents and guardians are left without psychological support, which negatively impacts family resilience, the implementation of inclusive education, and the integration of children into society.
International practices demonstrate a wide range of tools for supporting parents of children with disabilities. However, directly adopting these solutions is impossible without taking into account the specifics of Kazakhstan’s social and institutional environment. In conclusion, the authors provide specific recommendations for developing a comprehensive, sustainable support system for families raising children with disabilities. Their implementation will enable the state to transition from a model of “care” to a model of partnership with the family, ensuring compliance with Kazakhstan’s international obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
‘This publication was funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of IWPR and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.