Interactional Model For Optimal Development Of Disabled Children

3. The relationships within a family are seen as multifaceted and multidirectional but fundamental for optimal development of the abled or disabled child. The over time developing mother-child relationship, a dyad, has been directed by a transactional model, which defines the interactive process between the mother’s and the child’s interactions leading to multifaceted behaviors in various settings. In mother-child relationships involving certain disabilities mothers have shown to adopt a directive and monitoring interaction style, also because the children’s communication style might be hard to understand for the parents. There exist 4 theoretical perspectives that have guided investigations of families with children who have a developmental disability: stage theory models, stress and coping models, family system models, and social-ecological models. The stage theory model was developed based on clinical studies about the grieving process due to the theory that the disclosure of the disability of the child is equivalent to loose someone. The process is divided into three stages, consisting of the first stage of disbelieve of the diagnosis and in the doctors. This leads to the second stage, which implies the feeling of guilt,

Especially disabled children from minorities have to deal with “normative behavior” defined on the majority group and their status of being disabled and from a minority. Furthermore, a collaborative relationship can be hindered due to the language barrier and differences of the belief systems. The cultural perspective is an important factor in the belief and value system and it needs to be recognized in the family system to secure a positive development among children of all ethnicities and physical abilities. Therefore, training in cultural understanding is important not generalize certain behavior and develop