Religion frequently plays a role in parents’ adaptation to their children's disability. This article examines the religious perceptions of 161 parents of children with visual impairments, as indicated in their responses to a questionnaire. The areas that were investigated included changes in parents’ religious beliefs following the diagnosis of their children's disability, interpretations of the cause of the disability, and perceptions of support from their religious communities.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BishopV. (1987). Religion and blindness: From inheritance to opportunity.Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 81, 256–259.
2.
DundstC., TrivetteC., & CrossA. (1986). Mediating influences of social support: Personal, family, and child outcomes.American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 90, 403–417.
3.
FergusonP.M., & HeifetzL.J. (1983). An absence of offering: Parents of retarded children and their experiences with the clergy.Pastoral Psychology, 32, 49–57.
4.
FeweilR.R. (1986). Supports from religious organizations and personal beliefs. In FewellR.R., & VadasyP.F. (Eds.), Families of handicapped children: Needs and supports across the lifespan (pp. 297–316). Austin: Pro-Ed Co.
5.
KushnerH. (1981). When bad things happen to good people.New York: Schocken Books.
6.
McCubbinH., JoyC., CaubleA., ComeauJ., PattersonJ., & NeedleR. (1980). Family stress and coping: A decade review.Journal of Marriage and Family, 41, 237–244.
7.
MosesK. (1983). The impact of initial diagnosis: Mobilizing family resources. In MulickJ.A., & PueschelS.M. (Eds.), Parent-professional partnerships in developmental disability services. (pp. 11–34). MA: Academic Guild.
8.
RudinD. (1984). Lifetime of patience (videotape).Austin: Texas School for the Blind.
9.
RoosP. (1963). Psychological counseling with parents of retarded children.Mental Retardation, 1, 345–350.
10.
SchillingR.F., GilchristL.D., & SchinkeS.P. (1984). Coping and social support in families of developmentally disabled children.Family Relations, 33, 47–54.
11.
SchmittR. (1978). Religious views of parents of retarded children.Journal of Religion and Health, 17, 80–87.
12.
TurnbullA.P. (1983). Growing with a handicapped child in the family and community: A parent's perspective. In PaulJ.L. (Ed.)., The exceptional child (pp. 1–19). New York: Syracuse University Press.
13.
U.S. Bureau of the Census (1987). Current population reports.Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.