Introduction
Families with a member having a disability have a wide range of challenges t hat they face. These vary from stigmatization to segregation within the society, marital strain, and financial burden of caring for the disabled members of the family as well as lack of social acceptance. This paper presents a questionnaire that provides a list of questions posed to an adult member of a family that has a child with a disability and the responses given. It considers the constraints that such a family faces in taking care of the disabled child within the normal family set up. Additionally, the questionnaire will seek to find out the methods that the families have applied in their attempt to cope with the challenge posed. Despite the challenges, the joys brought about by this situation are also considered.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Please take time to fill in the following questionnaire. You are not required to write your name and all the information collected is confidential and will only be used solely for study purposes.
1. What, if anything, makes your family (with a member with a disability) different from other families?
Response: a family with a member with a disability is a special family. Basically due to the change in set up and the coordination between the members that is required in order to involve and include the member with the disability. Additionally, it is a family set up that has a lot of patience and love compared to other families. This is brought about by the acceptance of the member with a disability the way they are and supporting each other in this endeavor.
2. What is the most significant challenge faced by you and your family?
Response: My family has been faced with a lot of challenges the main ones being strain on my marriage relationship with my wife as well as a strenuous relationship between my children. My wife and I have had to undergo several counseling sessions on how to deal with the new development of having a child with a disability within the family. On the other hand, our children have had a difficult time changing to the new environment.
3. How have you tried to cope with this challenge?
In coping up with this challenge, I have tried to carry out some measures that will try to ensure the cohesion of my family. These include seeking professional help. This has provided a major boost in the adaptation as well as acceptance of the disabled child into the family set up. My wife and I also joined a social welfare network that has given us great and sufficient help in encouraging us to cope up with the new development. Inclusion of play activities involving the whole family set up has also helped in including the disabled child within the family set up and reducing sibling strain.
4. What is the greatest joy or success you have experienced around your family member with a disability?
Surprisingly the disabled child has brought a lot of joy to our family. To begin with, he has enhanced cohesion and togetherness within the family. I could also say the happiness during the recreation hours that the disabled child is involved has brought great fulfillment to our lives. It was surprising but the change in the family ideals and appreciation of life as well as people of different abilities especially among the siblings has brought great joy in our family.
Thank you for taking time to fill in this questionnaire, your indulgence is appreciated.
REFERENCES
Havens, C. A. (2005). Becoming a Resilient Family: Child Disability And The Family System. Retrieved on 8/4/2012.
Retrieved from: http://www.ncaonline.org/monographs/17family.shtml
Higgins D, & Edwards B. (2008). Family Relationships and Support Networks. Research report, no. 16, 2008. The Nature and Impact of Caring For Family Members with A Disability In Australia. Retrieved on: 8/4/2012. Retrieved from: http://www.aifs.go.au/institute/pubs/resreport16/chapter5.html
