LAUSR

ABSTRACT Theoretical frameworks that support understandings of fathering children who have disability diagnoses are under-developed. The purpose of this theoretical paper is to present the generative fathering framework, interfaced with critical disability studies theory (CDS), for enriching understandings of fathering children with disability diagnoses. The authors introduce generative fathering, and follow this with an examination of the generative fathering assumptions: (1) fathers are responsible for meeting children’s needs through a ‘variety’ of fatherwork, (2) father–child connection results in a reciprocity of benefits, and (3) fathers’ strengths are cultivated amidst challenges – which is argued to be distinctly relevant to fathering in relation to children with disability diagnoses. A sample of relevant literature is drawn together to direct the discussion and to elaborate how the generative fathering framework can be informed by CDS to guide fuller understandings of fathering children with disability diagnoses.