Family Crisis following the Diagnosis of a Handicapped Child

The literature on family reaction to the diagnosis of a handicapped child is reviewed. Based upon this literature, a five-stage model of a family crisis is proposed. Each of these stages is then described in terms of its effects upon the modalities of behavior, affect, sensation, interpersonal relations, and cognitions. Implications for intervention with families of handicapped children are discussed, and suggestions for future research are offered.