Journal de psychologie et psychothérapie
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Key Factors Supporting or Inhibiting the Process of Identity Acceptance Related to Families with Disabled Children

Marta Kolarikova

Purpose: The paper describes key factors supporting or inhibiting the process of identity acceptance related to families with visually disabled children. The goal of the research was to understand the factors that influence the acceptance of this difficult situation.

Methods: Authentic testimony was obtained from in-depth interviews with 19 families who had to cope with a child’s severe disability. A comprehensive multiple case study was developed, part of which is presented in the paper, to gain better insight into the issue.

Results: The research identified a gradual process of family acceptance related to the child’s disability and its consequences, the factors that may positively or negatively affect this process and the levels of satisfaction of families with existing advisory services. Authenticity of the facts identified in such a way is an important outcome and it may positively affect other families who are just beginning to deal with the disabilities of their own children.

Conclusions:
1. Health care professionals must be able to sensitively communicate with families in order that the family understands the diagnosis and the consequences of the family member’s disability.
2. Partner and family relationships must be based on mutual respect, support, trust and understanding, respecting the needs of individual family members;
3. A functional social support network;
4. Counseling services should respect the needs of families.

The system should becoherent and cooperative and its offer should be extended. The article presents the results of research carried out in 19 families with children suffering from visual impairments in Czech Republic. The results reflect the current functioning, experiences, needs and recommendations of the families. The aim of the research is to understand the factors that influence the process of acceptance of this difficult situation and dealing with it, and to find out the needs of these families in terms of their own function and the use of the counseling services offered.

Based on the analysis, it was discovered that for this group no research has been conducted on such a scale in the Czech Republic.
There were four research questions:
1. Did the family understand the cause of the child’s disability and its consequences?
2. Was there a change in the relationship between partners after the birth of a child with disabilities?
3. Have there been changes in social relationships and the support from the social support network?
4. What are the recommendations for families who find themselves in a similar life situation?