Grandparents

Grandparents are often greatly affected by the birth of a child with a disability; the pain they feel may be two-fold -- pain for their grandchild and pain for you, their own child. It is important to remember that they will need support and information, too, and that "the way you relate to them can create the setting for how they will help or not help you, or how they will deal with the child" (Routburg, 1986, p. 32). Some grandparents may have difficulty accepting their grandchild's disability, which is as normal as the stage of denial parents themselves may have experienced. Others will be a great source of help and support, and their involvement can benefit the nuclear family. (Seligman & Darling, 1989)

Therefore, your parents and other members of the extended family need to be given opportunities to get to know your child as a person and not just a person with disabilities (Routburg, 1986, p. 32). Allowing them to become involved with your child may also allow you some much-needed time away from the responsibilities associated with caring for a child with special needs.

Adapted from information published by the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities