Special Education and Teaching Commons^™

Raising A Child With A Severe Disability: The Impact On Parents And Siblings, Kathleen A. Packingham

Culminating Projects in Special Education

A review of 10 recent studies that reported on the effects of raising a child with a severe disability. The paper examines the effects of stress on parents raising a child with a severe disability, as well as outcomes for siblings being raised in the same households. Mothers reported higher daily parenting hassles and stress than did fathers. Maladaptive behaviors were the biggest contributing factor to increased stress in the family. Positive coping strategies and increased service utilization lead to decrease in stress and increase in positive outcomes.