Loving and living with a person diagnosed with a disability places strains on many families. The difficulties are often more prominent when communication, behavior and social issues are characteristics of the disability. Families relate that having a strong network of understanding and caring individuals involved in their daily lives is a natural support and a great help. Families living with Autism cope with uncertainty each day.
Fouse and Wheeler (1997) report that families which include a child diagnosed with autism often have more tension and stress than other families. Keeping the family focused, financially sound, emotionally strong, and with time to devote to all members of the family is often a difficult balancing act for families with members who have been diagnosed with autism. However, families also report that having a member with autism has often brought them closer together and more united in their purpose and focus.
Families must remember that many individuals make up a family. To maintain the physical and emotional health of the family, it is imperative that time is devoted to the individuals, their renewal, their emotional health and fun.
The Burkhart Project
Carol Layton, Ed.D and Robin Lock, Ph.D.
Texas Tech University