Article by: W.L. Heward
http://www.education.com/reference/article/impact-child-disabilities-family/
The article that I read for this week (linked above) was related to the impact of disabilities on families. The article mentioned that families, especially parents, tend to experience feelings of guilt, anger, denial, etc. when they realize that a family member has been diagnosed with a disability. The family needs to realize that they can no longer control the fact that they have the condition, but that they can be extremely supportive and do everything possible to make them feel comfortable and just as much a part of everything as the rest of the family. The article included a theory involving three stages of adjustment for the family, beginning with the overwhelming first stages of denial and guilt. It is not until the third stage that the family has learned to accept their child. That being said, the article also included a study, which revealed that as time goes on, families reach a new stage and feel that they are brought closer together and build a stronger bong with one another than they ever would with the normal family they had imagined. Like we saw in the video from the interactive lecture, there comes a time when you need to let them go and do things on their own. The transitions throughout life are extremely important and the family needs to understand the different levels of involvement that are necessary for each unique transition. Whether it is early on in their life and the family feels like they need to smother the child with love and care, or they are heading off to bigger and better things on their own, the people-first perspective is extremely important. We hope that within every family, there is an enormous amount of love and support for all members, so keeping the people-first perspective in mind is especially important. Also, as we read about and watched in the lecture, the handling of different "accomplishments" can play a crucial role in the emotional feelings of the individual. The family should really do their best to not blow it out of proportion when the individual accomplishes tasks that are not typically praised. On the other hand, the family does need to understand and be able to deal with situations where outsiders are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with their loved one's condition. It is important to protect the family member, but not to turn the opinions of others into a focal point and cause issues regarding the subject. Lastly, when it comes to the guiding principles of IDEA, and the many transitions throughout the path of education, parent participation is extremely important. Parents play a crucial role in the education and opportunities of their children. Being involved can go a long way to benefit their child's future. All in all, the family will without a doubt experience many different feelings and be put in many different situations when another family member has a disability. The most important piece to the puzzle is how the family handles the situation and is able to adapt. Being supportive and loving unconditionally will go a long way and benefit everyone involved.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/impact-child-disabilities-family/
The article that I read for this week (linked above) was related to the impact of disabilities on families. The article mentioned that families, especially parents, tend to experience feelings of guilt, anger, denial, etc. when they realize that a family member has been diagnosed with a disability. The family needs to realize that they can no longer control the fact that they have the condition, but that they can be extremely supportive and do everything possible to make them feel comfortable and just as much a part of everything as the rest of the family. The article included a theory involving three stages of adjustment for the family, beginning with the overwhelming first stages of denial and guilt. It is not until the third stage that the family has learned to accept their child. That being said, the article also included a study, which revealed that as time goes on, families reach a new stage and feel that they are brought closer together and build a stronger bong with one another than they ever would with the normal family they had imagined. Like we saw in the video from the interactive lecture, there comes a time when you need to let them go and do things on their own. The transitions throughout life are extremely important and the family needs to understand the different levels of involvement that are necessary for each unique transition. Whether it is early on in their life and the family feels like they need to smother the child with love and care, or they are heading off to bigger and better things on their own, the people-first perspective is extremely important. We hope that within every family, there is an enormous amount of love and support for all members, so keeping the people-first perspective in mind is especially important. Also, as we read about and watched in the lecture, the handling of different "accomplishments" can play a crucial role in the emotional feelings of the individual. The family should really do their best to not blow it out of proportion when the individual accomplishes tasks that are not typically praised. On the other hand, the family does need to understand and be able to deal with situations where outsiders are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with their loved one's condition. It is important to protect the family member, but not to turn the opinions of others into a focal point and cause issues regarding the subject. Lastly, when it comes to the guiding principles of IDEA, and the many transitions throughout the path of education, parent participation is extremely important. Parents play a crucial role in the education and opportunities of their children. Being involved can go a long way to benefit their child's future. All in all, the family will without a doubt experience many different feelings and be put in many different situations when another family member has a disability. The most important piece to the puzzle is how the family handles the situation and is able to adapt. Being supportive and loving unconditionally will go a long way and benefit everyone involved.