Developmental Disabilities

A generalization used to justify a recommendation of institutionalization of a child with a developmental disability has been the assumption that such a child will have a negative impact on other children in the family. The negative impact is assumed to come from the time and material resources the care of the child with a developmental disability demands and from the stigma of the disability itself. Alternatively, those whose ideology rejects institutionalization offer the generalization that having a sibling with a disability will make the sibling a better person. Examples may be found to support both generalizations and this speaks to the importance of not making such generalizations but rather seeking to find the conditions that will help all family members successfully accomplish life tasks of coping and responding, using successful problem solving strategies.