On
learning that their child have a disability, most parents react in
ways that have been shared by all parents before them who have also been
faced with this disappointment and this enormous challenge. One of the
first reactions is denial—”This cannot be happening to me, to my child,
to our family.” Having the complete diagnosis and some knowledge of the
child’s future prospects can be easier than uncertainty. In either case,
however, fear of the future is a common emotion:
- What is going to happen to this child when he is five years old, when he is twelve, when he is twenty-one?
- What is going to happen to this child when I am gone?
- Will he ever learn?
- Will he ever go to college?
- Will he or she have the capability of loving and living and laughing and doing all the things that we had planned?
Other unknowns also inspire fear. Parents fear that the child’s
condition will be the very worst it possibly could be. Over the years, I
have spoken with so many parents who said that their first thoughts
were totally bleak. When parents learn that their child has a disability
or a chronic illness, they begin a journey that takes them into a life
that is often filled with strong emotion, difficult
choices, interactions with many different professionals and specialists,
and an ongoing need for information and services. Initially, parents
may feel isolated and alone, and not know where to begin their search
for information, assistance, understanding, and support. Parents of the
child with multiple disabilities struggle with feelings of isolation and
alienation from mainstream programs for children.
Counseling, proper guidance and consultation plays a very important
role in answering the questions in parents mind. We assist parents in
understanding the special needs of their child; providing parents with
information about child development; and helping parents to acquire the
necessary skills that will allow them to support the implementation of
their child’s Individual Development Plan
It involves :
- Increasing acceptance level among the parents and other family members
- An appropriate diagnosis for their child
- Making decisions about medical intervention
- Guidance regarding therapies and educational planning
- Managing daily behavioral challenges
- Managing unusual responses to sensory stimuli
As parents, you know your child best. You know your child’s
strengths, abilities, needs, and challenges, and, as a result, you have a
vital role in the treatment of your child. We believe interventions can
broadly promote family well-being by focusing on parental emotional,
cognitive, and behavioral adaptation to their child’s condition.
Parents’ adaptation to their child’s diagnosis has been found to predict
both family well-being and their child’s attachment security. The
parents should be made aware that the child could achieve normal
movements faster if they offer them appropriate occasions for functional
activities in daily living. Even if the motor movements are retarded,
the activities should be parallel with the cognitive level of the child
and this condition should be explained to the families.
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