Families of Children with Disabilities: Positive Adaptation across the Life Cycle

Research on families of children with disabilities has shifted from a focus on family distress to a focus on positive adaptation. Current research involving the family life cycle has spawned an interest in family stress and adaptation at different stages in the cycle. The study discussed in this article investigated the informal resources that parents use across the family life cycle and focused on positive adaptation. Interviews with 12 parents of children with disabilities ranging in age from 15 months to 30 years revealed ways in which friends and family, parent groups, helping professionals, and religious beliefs can be particularly supportive. Implications for social work practice are discussed.