The paper examines effects of handicapped children on normal siblings and explores the complexities of family networks. Major sibling studies undertaken since the early sixties are reviewed, and methodological shortcomings discussed. The possibility of identifying both siblings "at risk" and characteristics of adequately coping families is…

Six developmentally normal preschool siblings of disabled children participated in workshops in which modeling, rehearsal, and role play were used to improve siblings' understanding of disabilities while strengthening their self-perceptions and attitudes toward their disabled brother or sister. (Author/CL)

Twenty-six families that had sustained the sudden and unexpected death of an infant and that had surviving children were interviewed. Parents of 28 of the 35 siblings reported changes in their child's interaction with them, 24 siblings demonstrated sleep pattern changes, and 13 siblings showed changes in social interaction. (Author/CL)

The case study describes counseling for a family whose 7-year old refused to go to school and whose parents had never really come to terms with the death of their physically handicapped son. (CL)

The study explored family characteristics and behavioral-emotional reactions of 77 physically maltreated adolescents. Six different patterns of adolescent reaction to abuse were identified: acting-out, depression, generalized anxiety, extreme adolescent adjustment, emotional-thought disturbance, and helplessness-dependency. (Author/CL)

Results of two studies of social learning treatment indicate that this model of family intervention is an effective alternative to out-of-home placements with this population for approximately 50 percent of typical child protection services caseloads. The cost benefits of social learning treatments are discussed along with potentially useful…

An ex-post-facto research study of family attitudes toward blindness as reported by three different groups of rehabilitation closures revealed a number of significant differences between the groups on a semantic differential scale, which suggests that the family is a major contributing factor to successul rehabilitation and to securing gainful…

The case study features a 13-year old hearing impaired student with academic problems and his parents who have differing expectations for him. The need for the child to understand his problems and make decisions on his own was stressed. (CL)

Reviews the preliminary results of a research study designed to analyze the critical factors in the adoption of 78 older hard-to-place youths with severe emotional and learning disabilities. A high percentage of emotionally disturbed youths benefit from ties with adoptive families. Such placements are complex with varied outcomes. (Author/BB)

Components of a healthy home environment for hearing impaired children are considered, including good communication (such as the use of nonverbal communication) and emotional support. (CL)

The author describes the difficulties her family of 12 has faced with finding the best programs for their multiply handicapped, severely physically disabled preschoolers. (CL)

The author, famous in the field of family counseling, relates his experiences and subsequent inferences in the field of family life. (RWP)

The ralationship between six demographic characteristics and perceptions of family dependence were investigated for 170 physically disabled adults using Osgood's semantic differential technique. Implications of these findings for rehabilitation practice and further research are presented. (Author)

It is concluded that romanticism does not appear to be harmful to marriage relationships in particular or the family system in general, and is therefore not generally dysfunctional in our society. (Author)

Problems of identification behavior associated with the family romance fantasy were not characteristic of 25 adoptees studied. (NH)