Family and Disability: dynamics and critical issues

Abstract

The focus on the field of investigation of families with children with disabilities has changed over time

It is easy to imagine how disability of one or more children demands a reorganization and changes in the natural course of family life cycle. Disability, hence, can influence the natural development of an individual’s life.

Communicating a diagnosis to parents could be associated to the loss of a child, not born as they expected. To react to the loss, therefore, parents carry out defense mechanisms such as denial or hyper-protection.

Basically, this article aims to shed light on the opportunities and difficulties faced by today’s families due to the presence of a member with a disability.