SW 644: Issues in Developmental Disabilities Parent Centered Movement Part I Lecture Presenter: Audrey Begun, M.S.W., Ph.D.

Video of Don Anderson

Video of Dr. Begun

Family Issues  Environmental context  Early intervention – IDEA, Part H  Family-centered perspective

Family Systems Perspective  Emotional bonds & interaction patterns History Values Goals Dreams Belief systems Interactions outside of family

Holism  The family as a system is more than a sum of its parts

Interdependence  Change in one part of the family affects the entire family system (directly & indirectly)  Circularity of influence

Subsystems  Subsystems are imbedded within the larger family system Marital: husband & wife Parental: parent & child Sibling: brother & sisters

Social and Environmental Context  The family system exists within a larger social & environmental context Family Microcosm (informal) Mesocosm (formal) Macrocosm (broader, general environment)

Multiple Generations  Families are multi-generational

Recognizing Systems Perspective  Asking about household membership, extended family, neighbors  Considering how a planned intervention will affect the child and other family members and their relationships  Asking questions about the person’s interaction with various other family members

Recognizing Systems Perspective (cont.)  Planning takes account of the family’s view of their own past, present, and future  Considering welfare, growth, and development of person with disability, family members and family system as a whole  Considering factors outside the family as well as the family itself

Family Development Perspective  Family Developmental Triggers Developmental change in any individual family member Change in any one of the subsystems or relationships Change in family membership Pressure for change from the family’s ecological context

Family Development Stage Theories  Normative stage model  Life events model  Paranormative events: are those which do not generally happen to a majority of families  Vertical/horizontal stressor events

Developmental Issues for Families  Initial diagnosis period  Coming to terms  Engaging the service delivery system  Settling in