AbstractTitle of Proposal: "She Is The Skipper But...": Fathers´ Voices On Disability In The Family And The Value Of Formal And Informal Support.Key words: families, disability, fathers' roles, masculinity, support, social policy, family choices. The paper is based on a research in process, into how families perceive the birth and care of a disabled child, and how early experiences, support and perseptions affect family life and choices on behalf of the disabled child and youth. The study is qualitative, involving 40 families with disabled children, youth and young adults, borne between 1974 and 2005, service professionals (in public health-, education and social services), policy makers and document analysis. The research is placed within the interpretivist paradigma and influenced by "the life world aspect" of grounded theory approach to data analysis.The research focus is on perspectives of the families of disabled children in a changing welfare climate.The purpose of this paper is to describe, explore and interprete fathers/husbands perspectives on having a disabled child in a time of significant societal changes; including changes in social policy, professional practice, and parental and gender roles. How do fathers of disabled Icelandic children borne between 1974-2004 experience disability in their families? How do they describe and experience their roles within their families? How do they perceive the (predominantly female) support available to their child and family - and to what extent have changes in policy and practice impacted the fathers´/husbands´ roles and needs? The theoretical perspective is social constructionism. I am interested in the "meaning making" in the face of changing policy and practice. Data sources are interviews with fathers (and mothers) of the the children, youth and young adults in the sample, and document analysis.My questions in this paper relate to how, and with what support, fathers of disabled children experience their family roles and tasks, and if and how changes in formal support and social policy has affected their perception? And if and how this may impact parental/family choices and choices on behalf of the disabed child.Findings suggest that fathers have different tasks and perspectives on disability in the family than do mothers, and that many experience that their roles as fathers and husbands are disenfrancised by formal support systems, manned largely by female staff, and aimed at supporting the disabled child rather than the family unit.