A statewide survey was conducted in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Assistive
Technology Center of Harrisburg to identify the
stressors and family supports of
59 families with young children between the ages of 3 and 12 years who
use AAC technology and technology services. Descriptive statistics and correlations
were used to analyze the data. Parenting Stress Index results revealed both fathers
and mothers perceived the child-related variables of acceptance and demandingness as
stressful. Results revealed differences for
parent-related variables for mothers and fathers. Data derived
from the Family Support Scale revealed significant differences for mothers and fathers with regard to the helpfulness of
social supports. Implications for family-centered intervention and future research are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abidin, R.R. (1995). Parenting stress index
(3rd ed.). Odessa, Florida:
Psychological Press Resources,
Inc.
2.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. ( 1991 ). Report: Augmentative and alternative
communication. Asha, 33 (Suppl.
5), 9-12.
3.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. ( 1989). Competencies for speech-language
pathologists providing services in augmentative communication.
Asha, 31,
107-110.
4.
Angelo, D., & Jones, S.D., & Kokoska, S. (1995). A family perspective on augmentative and
alternative communication: Families of young children. AAC
Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 11,
193-201.
5.
Bailey, D., & Simeonsson, R. (1988). Family assessment in early
intervention. Columbus, OH:
Merrill Publishing Company.
6.
Baumgart, D., Johnson, J., & Helmstetter, E. (1990). Augmentative and alternative communication
systems for persons with moderate and severe disabilities.
Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes
Publishing Co.
7.
Barnett, D.W., Hall, J.D., & Bramlett, R.K. (1990). Family factors in preschool assessment
and intervention: A validity study of parenting stress and coping
measures. journal of School
Psychology,28,
13-20.
8.
Bernheimer, L.P., & Keogh, B.K. (1995). Weaving interventions into the fabric of
everyday life: An approach to family assessment. Topic in
Early Childhood Special Education, 15(4),
415-433.
9.
Berry, J.O. (1987). Strategies for involving parents in
programs for young children using augmentative and alternative
communication. AAC Augmentative and Alternative
Communication, 90-93.
10.
Beukelman, D.R., & Mirenda, P. (1992). Augmentative and alternative communication:
Management of severe communication disorders in children and adults.
Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes
Publishing Co.
11.
Bramlett, R.K., Hall, J.D., Barnett, D.W., & Rowell, R.K. (1995). Child developmental/educational status in
kindergarten and family coping as predictors of parenting stress: Issues for
parent consultation . Journal of Psychoeducational
Assessment, 13,
157-166.
12.
Bray, N.M., Coleman, J.M., & Bracken, M.B. (1981). Critical events in parenting handicapped
children . Journal of the Division for Early
Childhood, 3(2),
26-33.
13.
Cornwell, J.R., & Korteland, C. (1997). The family as a system and a context for early
intervention. In S. K. Thurman, J. R. Cornwell, and S. R. Gottwald (Eds.), Contexts of early intervention: Systems and settings
(pp. 93- 109). Baltimore, MD:
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
14.
Donahue-Kilburg, G. (1992). Family-centered early intervention for
communication disorders: Prevention and treatment.
Gaithersburg, Maryland : An Aspen
Publication.
15.
Duis, S.S., Summers, M., & Summers, C. (1997). Parent versus child stress in diverse
family types: An ecological approach. Topics in Early
Childhood Special Education,
17(1),53-73.
16.
Dunst, C.J., Trivette, C.M., & Deal, A., G. (1994). Supporting & strengthening families:
Methods, strategies, and practices. Cambridge,
Massachusetts: Brookline
Books.
17.
Dunst, C.J., Trivett, C., & Deal, A. (1988). Enabling and empowering families: Principles and
guidelines for practice. Cambridge, MA:
Brookline Books.
18.
Dunst, C.J., Jenkins, V. & Trivette, C.C. (1984). Family support scale: Reliability and
validity. Journal of Individual, Family, and Community
Wellness, 1,
45-52.
19.
Dyson, L., & Fewell, R.R. (1986). Stress and adaptation in parents of young
handicapped and nonhandicapped children: A comparative study.
Journal of the Division for Early Childhood,
10(1),
25-35.
20.
Gallagher, J.J., Beckman, P., & Cross, A.H. (1983). Families of handicapped children: Sources
of stress and its amelioration. Exceptional
Children, 50(1),
10-19.
21.
Gowens, J.W., & Nebrig, J.E. (1997). Infant-mother attachment at risk: How
early intervention can help. Infants & Young
Children, 9(4),
62-78.
22.
Hetherington, E.M. (1984). Stress and coping in children and
families. in A. Doyle, D. Gold, & D. S. Moskovitz (Eds.), Children in families under stress. (pp.
7-33). New Directions for Child Development,
no. 24. San Francisco, CA:
Jossey- Bass.
23.
Longo, D.C., & Bond, L. (1984). Families of the handicapped child:
Research and practice. Family Relations,
33, 57-65.
24.
Mahoney, G., & Filer, J. (1996). How responsive is early intervention to
the priorities and needs of families. Topics in Early
Childhood Special Education , 16(4),
437-457.
25.
Margalit, M. (1990). Effective technology integration for disabled
children: The family perspective. New York,
NY:
Springer-Verlag.
26.
Meadow-Orlans, K.P. (1994). Stress, support, and deafness:
Perceptions of infants' mothers and fathers. Journal of
Early Intervention , 18(1),
91-102.
27.
Meyer, D.J. (1986). Fathers of handicapped children. In
R. R. Fewell, & P. F. Vadasy (Eds.), Families of handicapped children (pp.
35-73). Austin,
Texas: Pro-ed.
28.
Shapp, L.C., Thurman, S.K., & DuCette, J.P. (1992).The relationship of attributions and
personal well-being in parents of preschool children with
disabilities. Journal of Early Intervention,
16(4),
295-303.
29.
Silverman, F.H. (1989). Communication for the speechless
(2nd ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice Hall.
30.
Stone, N.W. (1979). Attachment in handicapped infant-family
systems . Journal of the Division for Early
Childhood, 1,
28-32.
31.
Trivette, C.M., Dunst, C.J., Boyd, K., & Hamby, D.W. (1995). Family-oriented program models,
helpgiving practices, and parental control appraisals.
Exceptional Children, 62,
237-248.
32.
Turbiville, V.P., Turnbull, A.P., & Turnbull, H.R. (1995). Fathers and family-centered early
intervention. Infants & Young Children,
7(4),
12-19.
33.
Volenski, L.T. (1995). Building school support systems for
parents of handicapped children: The parent education and guidance
program. Psychology in the Schools,
12, 124-129.
