Empathy and Understanding: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Special Needs Children
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“I don’t have a disability; I have a different ability.” Robert M. Hensel
Learning that your child has a disability can have profound effects on the family. Parents have to first deal with their own emotions and cope with them before they can divert their energy toward understanding and participating in an intervention process for their child.
Researchers have discovered a few stages that the majority of families may go through, although every family's journey with a kid with a disability is distinct and diverse.
Identification of Autism
When parents and caregivers learn that their child has a disability, they may be shocked and find it difficult to accept. It's possible to feel emotions like shock, denial, grief, guilt, rage, and confusion.
Parents who find out that their child has a disability may be shocked and find it hard to accept. Emotions including shock, denial, grief, guilt, fury, and confusion are all possibilities.
Denying reality and ignoring signs of autism
At this stage, which is an extension of stage 1, parents may try to ignore reality or deny their child's handicap. Some parents might invest their time in looking for potential "cures" for the illness.
Parents may become totally absorbed in their studies and believe that if they learn and comprehend enough, they will discover a solution to their child's problems. Many parents experience feelings of personal development when they begin their knowledge search.
Withdrawal
Parents may experience rage and act out, or they may retreat and become inactive out of guilt. It is crucial to realize that this is an important stage to get at in the adjustment process.
Guilt, resignation, or anxiety
At this point, parents accept that they are raising a child with special needs. It's possible for them to feel paralyzing remorse, helplessness, and anxiety.
While they absorb their circumstance, parents could withdraw from the rest of their family and friends. Thoughts of whether society will accept their child, if others will be sympathetic to someone with special needs, and whether the uncertainties of the future may bother them may cross their minds.
Acceptance
A breakthrough occurs! Parents have feelings of happiness and acceptance.
They now learn to better themselves and others by strengthening their knowledge and abilities as they start to comprehend and appreciate their child.
There is hope for the future and now they turn towards professionals to become a member of the team designed to meet the needs of their child.
Prepare for Future
Life is now put together and futures are prepared. Parents, siblings, other family members, and friends carry on with their new, routine lives. There is active involvement and frank discussion. The family has a network of support to guide them on their journey.
Even if the road may be long and many people may not even go through these phases, parents will figure out how to deal with their child and take a positive direction for the future.
With the help of experts, parents can strike a balance between their expectations and reality.
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References
Paulson, K. (2015, July). The Mighty. Retrieved November 2020, from https://themighty.com/2015/07/6-stages-of-grief-as-a-special-needs-mom/
Healey, B. (1996, November). LD Online . Retrieved November 2020, from http://www.ldonline.org/article/5937/
Center for Parent Information and Resources, L. K. (2014). Reading Rockets . Retrieved 2020, from https://www.readingrockets.org/article/unplanned-journey-when-you-learn-your-child-has-disability
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