Disability in the family: a life span perspective.
This article provides an overview of disability in families. The goal of the article is to raise awareness of the status of people with disabilities and their families to develop culturally relevant psychological support. Families have widely varying perspectives on disability; those perspectives influence responses to disability from the preconception and prenatal developmental stages through old age. An international literature review is provided with consideration of cultural meanings of disability, preparation for dealing with disability, coping strategies, support, developmental dynamics, competing needs of family members, and ethics. Voices of people with disabilities and their families are included.
Banks
Martha E
ME
Research and Development Division, ABackans DCP, Inc., Akron, OH 44313-7002, USA. Banks@abackans.com
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological