Parental reaction to disability

Abstract 

When a child is discovered to have a developmental disability, the method and circumstances of telling the parents are of lasting importance, yet there are many difficulties for professionals in carrying out a disclosure of the diagnosis. This paper describes what we know, presented as guidelines, and what we do not know. The immediate impact of their child's disability varies across family members and is influenced by the immediate response of services. Too often, there has been a ‘black hole’ for parents as they wait for support and advice on how to help their child. In the longer term, research now provides an understanding of how families cope and the important resources and strategies on which they draw. Here, we discuss the implications of such research for the services that should be offered and their organization and co-ordination, as well as implications for public policy to combat the economic strain on families.

Keywords: developmental disability, coping, parental attitudes, disclosure of diagnosis

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• f1 Correspondence to TH. Tel.: +44 (0) 207 737 4000; Fax: +44 (0) 207 346 3445; E-mail: tammyhedderly@hotmail.com