The Resilient Family: Living with Your Child's Illness or Disability.

The Resilient Family: Living With Your Child's Illness or Disability

Emener, W., Hutchison, J. R., & Richard, M. Charles C. Thomas Publisher, LTD 2003, 322 pp., $78.95 hardback; $58.95 paperback

Power and Dell Orto have again written a very useful guide for dealing with disability and its effects on the family. Written in everyday language and free of jargon, the authors have done a fine job of outlining what family members need in order to cope with disability. The book is divided into two parts: Part One--The Trauma, and Part Two--The Family. The first part consists of the discussion of topics such as family needs, expectations, coping mechanisms, warning signs, and stress management. The second part includes an overview of problem solving, spirituality, attention to other family members, relationships with healthcare professionals, dealing with crises, and the future.

The Resilient Family is set up like a self-help book that includes helpful hints and reminders at the end of each chapter. It is appropriate reading for not only undergraduate and/or graduate rehabilitation students but also for a friend or immediate/extended family member of a person with a disability. Furthermore, the book is recommended reading for persons in various helping professions (e.g., social workers, nurses, occupational therapists, special educators). What was clearly illustrated from the authors' discussion and presentation of real family examples was that not all support or assistance must come from professionals but rather can be obtained from natural supports such as family members and friends.

Given the complex nature of families and their ability to cope, the authors do not pretend to know the formula for how families can finally accept the presence of disability or navigate through the adjustment process; however, they offer multiple examples and insights derived from actual families. There are many powerful examples of families that support the points outlined by the authors.

One advantage of this book is that it includes a spiritual perspective. For instance, there is discussion of how readings taken from the Bible and other spiritual texts can be integrated into the healing process. The topic of forgiveness, a crucial component of any healthy family system, and the problem of neglect of family members who do not have a disability, such as siblings, are also discussed. Those topics are common problems in families where disability is present and can lead to long-term resentment from members who feel neglected. The authors did a nice job of presenting those problems as well as suggestions for addressing them in sensitive ways. They also discuss the refraining of disability as a way to help family members take care of themselves and reduce feelings of guilt.

Another advantage is that the authors present the concept of family needs as one of give and take. Of course families need various kinds of tangible support; however, families also need to learn how to accept the presence of disability in the family and convey that acceptance to the member with a disability. Such acceptance is crucial to the family's personal growth and ability to move forward.

An aspect that is covered in this book that other similar texts tend not to include is that of joy. Having a family member with a disability is not a constant tragedy or a never ending cycle of negativity. The experience has the potential to give family members a heightened state of hope and spirituality. The authors have highlighted effectively the positive aspects of family disability in a thoughtful way.

In closing, The Resilient Family provides readers with useful tools, insights, and hopefulness. While writing an academic text for professionals, the authors showe care and concern for families through their knowledge and expertise. This book is a worthwhile contribution to the rehabilitation field and hopefully a model for future texts.

Denise B. Accordino, Ph.D.

School Psychologist

West Springfield Public Schools

Michael P. Accordino, D.Ed., CRC, LMHC 

Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation

and Disability Studies

Springfield College