A further perspective on parental reaction to handicap

In rejecting the familiar position that parents of handicapped children are dominated by negative emotions, this paper explores the necessity to include in any explanation of family dynamics the quality of professional support in mitigating the consequences of handicap. It also emphasizes other elements in constructing a satisfactory theory namely: parents’ reactions to transitions in the handicapped child's life; their individual differences in resisting stress; the extent and nature of the child's disability; and community attitudes to that particular disability.