The Effects Of Children With Learning Disabilities On...

Life in a family that has a child with a learning disability is often both complex and challenging. There are generally many practical as well as emotional issues involved. Many things have to be considered such as educational, medical, and financial decisions. There are many issues that may arise from having a child with a learning disability such as â€Å"family stress, parenting discrepancies, negative reactions from extended family members, difficulty in interacting with the school, and mixed effects upon siblings† (Dyson, 2010). In this essay I will discuss the main points of Dyson’s article, â€Å"Unanticipated effects of children with learning disabilities on their families,† things I learned from the article, potential challenges and†¦show more content†¦The article describes the results of these other studies as being inconsistent. This is because the other studies state that there are higher levels of stress in families with children having dis abilities than those that do not. A study conducted by Dyson found that â€Å"despite higher degrees of stress, families of children with developmental disabilities experienced the same level of family cohesion, maintenance of the family system, and emphasis on personal growth as families of nondisabled children† (Dyson, 2010). These studies regarding how disabilities affect the family have conflicting results therefore Dyson wanted to know if similar results would be found in a study conducted with families that have learning disabled children. The study that was conducted tested the hypotheses that having a child that is learning disabled will have a negative effect on family life and on siblings in particular. The study was conducted through the use of focus groups which conducted in depth group interviews and consisted of ten families represented by eleven parents. The results of the study concluded that parents suffered guilt, family stress, as well as martial tension. T here were also parents blaming each other as well as issues in regards to parenting styles. In regards to extended family support many parents felt that other