BUILDING ON FAMILY STRENGTH: A STUDY OF FAMILIES WITH POSITIVE ADJUSTMENT TO THE BIRTH OF A DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILD*

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Abstract
This research was based on the assumption that much could be learned from families that had adapted well to the birth of a child with developmental disabilities. It was of interest to explore what made these families strong and if consistent patterns of coping and adjustment could be observed. Positive adaptation seemed unrelated to degree of the child's disability or level of soothability, and further, did not seem directly linked to family income level. However, it appeared that two‐parent families with few children were at a distinct advantage. Positive family adaptation appeared to be tied to functioning of the parental subsystem and the skillful utilization by parents of family and friendship network resources.