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In "A difference in the family: Life with a disabled child" author Helen Featherstone gives her personal experiences, as well as, the experiences of other families who have disabled children. This book depicts the various emotional stages and perspectives associated with the families acknowledgement and acceptance of how their lives will be affected by their child's disability.

In this reflection we review Featherstone's story focusing on three distinct focuses or lenses; family structure and the family systems theory; family perspectives and intervention; and habits of mind in relation to how to parent a disabled child.

Table of Contents

Section I:

Family Structure and The Family System Theory

Section II:

Family perspectives and intervention

Section III:

Habits of Mind

Section I

Family Structure

The context of family has been and will always be the most valued and influential aspect of an individual’s life. Despite differences in compositions, socio-economic statuses, or cultural values and practices; we all resolve to ensure our family’s well-being. In an effort to have a guideline by which family functions could be analyzed professionals devised the Family Systems Theory. The Family Systems Theory is based on the ideal that all aspects of the family are interrelated. The aspects of family include family structure, family interactions, family functions and family cycle. Family structure includes the members of the family and the roles in which they function.

It also takes into account cultural and ideological tendencies. Family interactions are the core of the theory. It is during this process that the family’s level of cohesion and adaptability are examined. Their ultimate goal is to serve the family’s collective demands. Family function refers to the effectiveness of the family structure and family interaction in meeting the needs of the family. Family life cycle assimilates the elements of change that are encountered during a family’s life span. These elements include developmental and non-developmental changes in the aspects of the family. The family system demonstrated in “A difference I the family: Life with a disabled child” proves the Featherstone’s to be highly effective. In relation to the aspects of family systems the Featherstone’s family structure, family interactions, family function and family life span show themselves to be efficient in meeting the family’s need despite having a child with special needs.

The Featherstone’s family structure is considered to be what is commonly referred to as a “traditional family”. A traditional family embodies a support system in which two married individual provide care and stability for their children. The Featherstone family was comprised of Helen the mother; Jay the father; and children Liza, Jody and Caitlin. Although traditional in structure the Featherstone family interactions were specifically unique. Family interactions reflect the ever-changing nature of families and the role communication plays in creating and maintaining family relationships. They provide opportunities to maintain, establish, and promote parent-child relationships. Interactions allow parents to evaluate their own parenting capacities and gain knowledge of new practices and methods of parenting. The Featherstone family interaction cause Jay to assume the role of caretaker while Helen was out completing

research for this book, as well as, working in her profession as a published author and educator. The eldest daughter Liza would help her parents in routine care of her disabled brother Jody. Caitlin, the youngest, also helped care for her brother. Although strained at times the family structure and family interaction provided a successful mode of family function. Family function is integral to the functioning of the social bodies of the family. In layman terms family function is reflects the effectiveness of the family structure and family interaction. Family function fluctuates with the family’s life span. As time and needs change or there are other societal changes the family’s functions will reflect those changes as they pertain to the needs of the family.

Section II

Family Perspectives and Intervention

Perspective

Jody , the child diagnosed with hydrocephalic, cerebral palsy, seizures and blindness sadly unable to express his feelings about his diagnoses. Helen the mother expressed her point of view about her new life after giving birth to a child that would always be considered different. Like many parents faced with the same or similar situation felt man feelings she felt that something bad had finally happened to her, she felt angry at herself that maybe eating something she wasn’t suppose to eat caused her child to be the way was, she was mad at herself,

she feared she wouldn’t be capable of loving her disabled child and that his diagnoses was the end of the world. Helen sometimes would view her life in the later stages when she was facing old age but still would have to care f, or her disabled child with the fear that she may have never been able to supply her son Jody with all his needs .Jody mothers spoke of anger how she would cover her anger with jokes and laughs, Or how other mothers would be angry at God she recalled a mother cursing God although she herself wouldn’t say anything like that she understood their anger. Jay , Jody’s fathers perspective was in my opinion fearful that maybe if they had another child that baby would also be disabled , Helen recalled of a time when she was pregnant with her last child her husband expressed to his daughter of his worry , he just wanted a normal baby .

The children in this instance Liza and Caitlin, Liza cared for her brothers feelings , she also had questions and wondered what happened to adult handicapped people , due to that fat of lack of adult disability education because they are hidden and shunned away .

In conclusion the perspective of the family members and the examples given throughout the story all varied but anger ,guilt , fear , loneliness all overcame all individuals in the family , and would cause tension on the family members . Children questioned how did this happen? Can I catch what my disabled siblings have? Would they on day have to care for their disabled siblings? Parents wondered could they meet all there children needs was it possible to meet all the disabled child needs. The family worried on how others would accept their disabled child. Raising a disabled child was a challenge it wasn’t the end of the world but it was a daily challenge.

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Preview audio:

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Table of Contents

Section I:

Family Structure and The Family System Theory

Section II:

Family perspectives and intervention

Section III:

Habits of Mind

Section I

Family Structure

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"Uniquely Different A reflection of the fundamentals associated with families of disabled children"

neshele1978

In 'A difference in the family: Life with a disabled child', Helen Featherstone shares her experiences and those of other families with disabled children. The book explores emotional stages, family structure, perspectives, interventions, and parenting habits.

(17 pages)

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