Original materials below are reproduced from Coping.org, a Public Service of James J. Messina, Ph.D. & Constance M. Messina, Ph.D., 6319 Chauncy Street, Tampa, FL 33647 Email: jjmess@tampabay.rr.com ©1999-2004 James J. Messina, Ph.D. & Constance Messina, Ph.D.
B. Levels of Parental Awareness about the Diagnosis
What was your level of awareness after hearing the diagnosis given to your child? Compare your level awareness with these of other parents after they received such news:
Minimal awareness:
The parents refuse to recognize that certain characteristic behavior is abnormal.
The parents blame factors other than the diagnosed disability for the symptoms.
The parents either deny the need for treatment or believe that treatment will produce a normal child.
The parents describe the symptoms of the disability with questions about the causes.
The parents hope for improvement but fear that treatment will not be successful and are skeptical, often looking elsewhere for a better answer.
The parents question their ability to cope with the problems.
Considerable awareness:
The parents state that the child has a specific developmental disability or special need and call it by its actual title.
The parents recognize, admit and accept the limitations of any treatments offered to their child in addressing their child's disability.
The parents request information about suitable care and training and proceed to gain services for their child and the whole family.
Are you at the considerable level of awareness level? What do you need to do to get to this level? Have you ever met other parents who are at the considerable awareness level? How comfortable do you feel being around these parents? Do you find their approach to their children's special needs difficult to accept. Do you think they have "given up" and have no "hope" by being so aware and accepting of their children's special needs? Often parents who have fully accepted the diagnosis and who have fully read up and learned about it, find that they often know more about the condition than the professionals working with their children. Remember: This is good, this is very good. You the parent are the expert on your child and you have the right to know all you need to know about your child's condition, its causes, the treatments available and the prognosis for your child's future as a result of having this special need.
