Disability rights advocate Felicia Inniss has called for significant policy changes to support parents raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Speaking at the St James Ideas Forum town hall meeting held at Frederick Smith Secondary School on Wednesday night, Inniss emphasized the need for extended maternity and paternity leave, as well as enhanced community-based support systems. She highlighted the unique challenges faced by these families, urging policymakers to address their specific needs. Inniss welcomed the recent introduction of paternity leave but stressed that more must be done to assist parents of children with disabilities. She proposed that parents of children with severe intellectual impairments, diagnosed at birth, should be granted extended leave to better manage their circumstances. Traditional leave policies, she argued, often fall short for families with children requiring complex care. Inniss explained that the emotional and financial toll on these parents is immense, particularly in single-parent households where income may cease entirely. She emphasized the necessity of psychological support and extended leave to ensure parents can adequately care for their children without sacrificing their mental well-being. Inniss concluded by urging society to reevaluate its approach to supporting these families, highlighting the profound mental and emotional impact of raising a child with disabilities.