SUPPORT GROUP for PARENTS of CHILDREN with SPECIAL NEEDS

Parents of children with special needs deal with multifaceted challenges on a daily basis: the struggles of accepting the diagnosis and the effects that it has on their marriage and the family life overall, finding resources and the right program for their child, being in public with a child with visually obvious disabilities, or with  one that visibly shows no signs of being different, but acts in extreme ways, being constantly reminded of the child’s different perception of the world, and finally dealing with overwhelming worries about the future.

The diagnosis of a child has an immense impact on both the immediate caregivers and the entire family. Unpredictability of diagnosis and future development, limited knowledge about autism in the general public and in the medical field, as well as difficulties in relating to the child cause a maze of emotional strains on the parents. The child’s often inappropriate behaviors limit the family’s participation in regular daily life activities and the parents are overwhelmed with grief and fatigue.

Research studies in the late 90’s have found that current services and legislation may not be meeting the needs of families. This is a life-long process and parents will not only need support during the early years, but will need support when it comes to challenging transitions in their child’s life. Some researchers suggest that intervention programs need to be aimed at the entire family and stress the importance of being not just focused on the child. Emotional support in the forms of group, individual or couple therapy for parents will encourage the development of more effective coping strategies for their marriage, the entire family, and in relation to their diagnosed child.

Anne Jeong, LMSW
AAFS Clinician

For more information, contact Anne Jeong at 713.339.3688 or email: anne.jeong@aafstexas.org